William "Bill" Edwin Tew, Jr., 77, died at his home on April 1, 2017. Born October 21, 1939, in Erwin, NC, to the late William E. Tew, Sr. and Myrtle Davis Tew, Bill was raised and lived in the rural area of Linden, NC, on the banks of the Cape Fear River in Northern Cumberland County. Bill was recognized for his dedication to farming and has been the recipient of multiple local and state awards, including, most recently, The Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the highest distinction a North Carolina resident can receive. He was given the award during the 54th annual meeting of the Cumberland County Livestock Association on February 10th, 2017, held at The NC Cooperative Extension, Charlie Rose Agri-Expo Center. Mr. Tew was a fourth generation, lifelong farmer, from which he never retired. Farming has been the focus of the life and, even more importantly, promoting agriculture throughout the State. Away from the farm, Mr. Tew has served in many capacities representing Cumberland County and the State of North Carolina. He has served two congressmen, two governors, to include, Governor Mike Easley's Agriculture Advisory Committee, Governor Beverly Purdue's Agriculture and Forestry Awareness and Study Commission, and Agriculture Advisory Committee member of Congressmen Mike McIntyre and Charlie Rose, and a plethora of civic and professional organizations and roles ranging from membership on advisory committees, to sitting on board of directors. Former U.S. Rep. Congressmen Mike McIntyre is quoted as saying, "Cumberland County has been very blessed to have a man of his abilities, stature, dedication, devotion and integrity to represent it in so many different ways." "My congratulations to Bill and his family on the highest honor of distinction which he is receiving. May God's blessings continue to be with him and all of his dear family?" "It has been my distinct honor to have Mr. Tew serve as a charter member of the Seventh Congressional District Agriculture Advisory Committee during the years of my service in the United States Congress." "Mr. Tew was always a ready and willing participant, eager to advance the cause of agriculture both substantively and procedurally." Bill was inducted into the Cumberland County Agricultural Hall of Fame for his significant contributions to agriculture in 2001. He has served on the Cumberland County Board of Directors for 45 years and also served the Farm Bureau Board of Directors at the state level for 25 years, as well as national levels. He served N.C. Farm Bureau Land Use Advisory Committee for 11 years and the American Farm Bureau Forestry Advisory Committee for 3 years. He was named a recipient of the Cumberland County Farm Bureau Outstanding Service for Agriculture Award, the Kiwanis International Distinguished Service Award and he was inducted into the Cumberland County Agriculture Hall of Fame. He served on the Cumberland County Civic Center Commission for 12 years and was instrumental in the formation of the Cumberland County Fair. Mr. Tew was able to extend his vision for the future of the area by serving on the county joint planning board for 2 decades, helping zone the county in the 1970s. He offered his assistance to other towns as well. He helped develop land-use plans for Falcon, Godwin, Hope Mills, Spring Lake and Wade. He is also a life-long member of Sardis Presbyterian Church where he served as a deacon and a ruling elder, where he also had perfect attendance for Sunday school for 17 years. He worked for the Cumberland County Tax Administration for 42 years as a part-time tax lister and a tax research specialist. Bill has served the members of South River EMC for 19 years as a director, and before that, for over 20 years as a member of the nominating committee. His ties to Linden remain strong, which is reflected in the multitude of civic affiliations that dot his personal resume. Among them are Linden Precinct Democratic Registrar, the Linden Community Development Club, the Fayetteville Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the Westarea Fire Department Board of Directors, the Cumberland County Extension Advisory Counsel, the 4-H Foundation, Cumberland County Livestock Association, Tobacco Marketing Quota Review Committee and the Southeastern North Carolina Agricultural Society. Bill is preceded in death by his parents and two siblings, Robert L. Tew and James I Tew. He is survived by his wife, Marion Cimaglia Tew, daughter Susan DeAngelis Tew, son William E. Tew, III, and daughter-in-law Kelly Norton Tew, all of Linden, NC; sister, Shirley Tew Warren of Durham; Willie E. Tew, and wife Debbie of Florida; David A. Tew of Linden; brothers-in-law Anthony "Tony" M. Cimaglia, Jr. and, wife, Ann; James "Jim" L. Cimaglia and, wife, Patty; Joseph "Joe" D. Cimaglia, all of Fayetteville, NC; and John R. Cimaglia and, wife, Susan of Des Moines, IA; as well as many nieces and nephews. Over the later years he was afflicted with a lung condition, commonly referred to as "farmer's lung", which just recently limited his mobility, but he showed courage and resilience in the face of it and rarely allowed it to prevent him from enjoying his family and friends. Receiving of friends will be at Jernigan Warren Funeral Home in Fayetteville on Wednesday evening from 6:00-8:00 pm. Funeral services will be held on Thursday 11:00 am at Sardis Presbyterian Church in Linden, followed by the burial at Lafayette Cemetery. Services will be officiated by Rev. Joseph Hester and Dr. Roger Horne.

Memorials can be made to Cumberland County Foundation Inc. for the William E. "Bill" Tew Scholarship Fund, PO Box 2345, Fayetteville, NC, 28302, or online at www.cumberlandcf.org, created in appreciation for his leadership and service to farmers in Cumberland County, NC and the state of North Carolina, and to make college education accessible to deserving students in the farming community. Memorials can also be made to Sardis Presbyterian Church, PO Box 99, Linden, NC 28356.