Lois Jewell
February 21st, 1921 - December 20th, 2024
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Lois's Obituary
Lois (Carnell) Jewell, affectionately known as “Mother Jewell”, 103 years old, was called home and transitioned to be with the Lord on Friday December 20, 2024, at South Haven Nursing and Rehabilitation Community in South Haven, Michigan. Lois was born February 21, 1921 to Lurlen and Cynthia Pearleen Carnell of Waukegan, Illinois.
Lois graduated from Wendell Phillip Academy High School in Chicago, Illinois. Lois as a young woman and mother moved with her family to South Haven, Michigan. Lois’s work career spanned many years with varied work and life experiences. She touched many lives. Lois worked as a domestic worker for many families where she imparted her faith, wisdom and love into the lives of the adults and the children of those families in her care as well as to her own children and grandchildren. Later Lois had an employment opportunity open for her at the South Haven Community Hospital in the Dietary Service Department where she interacted with co-workers and patients sharing her faith in the Lord and her unique witticism, building lifelong relationships for many years. Lois worked at the South Haven Community Hospital from 1966 until her retirement in 1986. She later moved to Briar Hill Townhouse (fondly called ‘Her Little House’) in South Haven, where she would display and showcase her many collectibles with her family and friends.
At an early age Lois professed her love of Jesus Christ and accepted Him as her Lord and Savior. She was actively involved with the church throughout her life and as a young mother and grandmother she raised her three children and grandchildren Troy and Michael in the church. As a young woman she and her late cousin and friend Dickie Johnson met in their homes and studied the Word of God together, and Lois became very versed in the bible.
Lois was a founding member of several churches during her lifetime and was a former member of Emmanuel Community Church. She later served under the leadership of her late aunt the Reverend Mary Rolland, founder of Kibbie Community Church of South Haven, Michigan. Lois served under the late Reverend Henry Goins, the late Reverend Laura Holland, Reverend Cleophis Johnson, and Pastor Jeff Terry and currently under the leadership of her close friend and Senior Pastor Bernice Thomas of Greater Faith Community Church of South Haven, Michigan, of which she was a founding member. Lois Jewell was a servant of the Lord and shared the love of God and her faith by serving on multiple auxiliaries and committees. She served in the Kibbie Church Choir and was the Kibbie Church Clerk for many years, and a supporter of the Forgotten Men’s Prison Ministries and believed in spreading the gospel to incarcerated men and women. Lois was officially ordained as a Stewardess in 2005. She later became a member of the Greater Faith Community Church Mother’s Board.
Lois loved reading, writing, journaling, crossword puzzles, music, Asian art, butterflies, jewelry and fashion. Her fashion sense and style was always impeccable. She had an impressively large music, book collection and other holiday season collectibles. Lois enjoyed a long and interesting life that included travel and going on her first “cruise” with her son George and his family. She traveled to many states to visit family and friends. One of her favorite destinations was Arizona to visit her niece Edwina (Roger) Camplin and enjoy the sun and the “Queen” treatment. Lois enjoyed spending time sharing her life experiences, wisdom and faith with her family members’ friends and talking about the Lord.
Lois celebrated her 100th Birthday with a “2021 Drive-by Parade” with family, friends and the South Haven Community including the South Haven Emergency First Responders, celebrating her 100th Birthday during the Covid 19 pandemic season. It was arranged by Rosemary, Rosie’, Swagerty. Also in 2021, the Van Buren County Michigan Board of Commissioners issued and, “Resolved that Lois Carnell Jewell be recognized as an Illustrious Centenarian” and a loved and respected member of the Community. Resolution and Proclamation Certificates were personally presented to Lois by Mayor Scott Smith and Commissioner Gayle Patterson-Gladney of South Haven, MI, an article was written in the South Haven Tribune.
Lois was preceded in death by her parents, her sons: George Stansberry, Jr (2013) and Ronald Stansberry (2018), her daughter Sandra Ellen Stansberry (2016), her brother Lurlen Carnell, Sr. (2016) and Sister Velda J. Cresswell (1987).
Lois leaves to mourn and cherish her memories - her grandchildren: Cheri Stansberry Singleton of Bonney Lake,WA, Troy David (Paula) Stansberry of Grand Haven, MI., Michael (Amy) Harris of Covert, MI, Roman A.(Favi) Stansberry of Evanston, IL, Stephanie D. Stansberry, Miguel Stansberry of Lacey, WA, and her daughters-in-law, Juanita Stansberry of Evanston, IL, and Patricia Ray Stansberry of Biloxi, MS. A special niece Monique Savage of Ann Arbor, MI and a special nephew Malcolm Scott of Hatto, TX, and a host of nieces, nephews, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren, and other relatives, Rosemary Swagerty, Darryl, Darren, Alyssa and Landen, Monique, Tavyan and Liam Swagerty, Pastor Bernice Thomas, the Greater Faith Community Church Family and a host of friends that spanned over 100 years.
Lois’s latter years were spent at the South Haven Nursing and Rehabilitation Community where she continued to share with her fellow residents and the nursing staff her knowledge, wit, spirit, love and steadfast faith in the Lord. When asked her secret for her long life, she would simply state, “THE LORD.”
A special thanks to Connie Jorgenson for her gifts of flowers to Lois for every Holiday and Birthdays over many many years. All of those bouquets probably inspired Lois’s favorite quote:
“Our mind is a garden, Our thoughts are the seeds, You can grow flowers, or You can grow weeds”.
Memorial gifts may be made in memory of Lois Jewell to:
Greater Faith Community Church, 03219 County Road 687, South Haven, MI 49090.
A Memorial Service for Lois will be held March 15, 2025, 11:00 am at Filbrandt Chapel, 1076 South Bailey Ave South Haven, Michigan 49090.
Those wishing to share a memory of Lois online may do so at www.starksfamilyfh.com.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Filbrandt Chapel - Starks Family Funeral Homes and Cremation Services. Phone: 269-637-0333.
Lois graduated from Wendell Phillip Academy High School in Chicago, Illinois. Lois as a young woman and mother moved with her family to South Haven, Michigan. Lois’s work career spanned many years with varied work and life experiences. She touched many lives. Lois worked as a domestic worker for many families where she imparted her faith, wisdom and love into the lives of the adults and the children of those families in her care as well as to her own children and grandchildren. Later Lois had an employment opportunity open for her at the South Haven Community Hospital in the Dietary Service Department where she interacted with co-workers and patients sharing her faith in the Lord and her unique witticism, building lifelong relationships for many years. Lois worked at the South Haven Community Hospital from 1966 until her retirement in 1986. She later moved to Briar Hill Townhouse (fondly called ‘Her Little House’) in South Haven, where she would display and showcase her many collectibles with her family and friends.
At an early age Lois professed her love of Jesus Christ and accepted Him as her Lord and Savior. She was actively involved with the church throughout her life and as a young mother and grandmother she raised her three children and grandchildren Troy and Michael in the church. As a young woman she and her late cousin and friend Dickie Johnson met in their homes and studied the Word of God together, and Lois became very versed in the bible.
Lois was a founding member of several churches during her lifetime and was a former member of Emmanuel Community Church. She later served under the leadership of her late aunt the Reverend Mary Rolland, founder of Kibbie Community Church of South Haven, Michigan. Lois served under the late Reverend Henry Goins, the late Reverend Laura Holland, Reverend Cleophis Johnson, and Pastor Jeff Terry and currently under the leadership of her close friend and Senior Pastor Bernice Thomas of Greater Faith Community Church of South Haven, Michigan, of which she was a founding member. Lois Jewell was a servant of the Lord and shared the love of God and her faith by serving on multiple auxiliaries and committees. She served in the Kibbie Church Choir and was the Kibbie Church Clerk for many years, and a supporter of the Forgotten Men’s Prison Ministries and believed in spreading the gospel to incarcerated men and women. Lois was officially ordained as a Stewardess in 2005. She later became a member of the Greater Faith Community Church Mother’s Board.
Lois loved reading, writing, journaling, crossword puzzles, music, Asian art, butterflies, jewelry and fashion. Her fashion sense and style was always impeccable. She had an impressively large music, book collection and other holiday season collectibles. Lois enjoyed a long and interesting life that included travel and going on her first “cruise” with her son George and his family. She traveled to many states to visit family and friends. One of her favorite destinations was Arizona to visit her niece Edwina (Roger) Camplin and enjoy the sun and the “Queen” treatment. Lois enjoyed spending time sharing her life experiences, wisdom and faith with her family members’ friends and talking about the Lord.
Lois celebrated her 100th Birthday with a “2021 Drive-by Parade” with family, friends and the South Haven Community including the South Haven Emergency First Responders, celebrating her 100th Birthday during the Covid 19 pandemic season. It was arranged by Rosemary, Rosie’, Swagerty. Also in 2021, the Van Buren County Michigan Board of Commissioners issued and, “Resolved that Lois Carnell Jewell be recognized as an Illustrious Centenarian” and a loved and respected member of the Community. Resolution and Proclamation Certificates were personally presented to Lois by Mayor Scott Smith and Commissioner Gayle Patterson-Gladney of South Haven, MI, an article was written in the South Haven Tribune.
Lois was preceded in death by her parents, her sons: George Stansberry, Jr (2013) and Ronald Stansberry (2018), her daughter Sandra Ellen Stansberry (2016), her brother Lurlen Carnell, Sr. (2016) and Sister Velda J. Cresswell (1987).
Lois leaves to mourn and cherish her memories - her grandchildren: Cheri Stansberry Singleton of Bonney Lake,WA, Troy David (Paula) Stansberry of Grand Haven, MI., Michael (Amy) Harris of Covert, MI, Roman A.(Favi) Stansberry of Evanston, IL, Stephanie D. Stansberry, Miguel Stansberry of Lacey, WA, and her daughters-in-law, Juanita Stansberry of Evanston, IL, and Patricia Ray Stansberry of Biloxi, MS. A special niece Monique Savage of Ann Arbor, MI and a special nephew Malcolm Scott of Hatto, TX, and a host of nieces, nephews, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren, and other relatives, Rosemary Swagerty, Darryl, Darren, Alyssa and Landen, Monique, Tavyan and Liam Swagerty, Pastor Bernice Thomas, the Greater Faith Community Church Family and a host of friends that spanned over 100 years.
Lois’s latter years were spent at the South Haven Nursing and Rehabilitation Community where she continued to share with her fellow residents and the nursing staff her knowledge, wit, spirit, love and steadfast faith in the Lord. When asked her secret for her long life, she would simply state, “THE LORD.”
A special thanks to Connie Jorgenson for her gifts of flowers to Lois for every Holiday and Birthdays over many many years. All of those bouquets probably inspired Lois’s favorite quote:
“Our mind is a garden, Our thoughts are the seeds, You can grow flowers, or You can grow weeds”.
Memorial gifts may be made in memory of Lois Jewell to:
Greater Faith Community Church, 03219 County Road 687, South Haven, MI 49090.
A Memorial Service for Lois will be held March 15, 2025, 11:00 am at Filbrandt Chapel, 1076 South Bailey Ave South Haven, Michigan 49090.
Those wishing to share a memory of Lois online may do so at www.starksfamilyfh.com.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Filbrandt Chapel - Starks Family Funeral Homes and Cremation Services. Phone: 269-637-0333.
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