Mary Elizabeth Corliss Sewell was born in Charleston, West Virginia on November 22, 1924 to Etha and John Corliss. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother John Corliss, sister Margery Corliss McIntyre, husband Frank W. Sewell and first born son, Michael C. Sewell. She is survived by her daughter, Judy Sewell Jones, son in law Andy Jones, son Jeffrey N. Sewell, daughter-in-law, Sue Sewell, her Grandchildren Leah C. Jones, Christopher (Rusty) Jones, Lindsey Sewell and a great-grandson, Slyvante Kimbrough.
Mary met her husband, Frank Sewell, in Charleston. Frank and Mary were married on New Year’s Eve in 1946. They moved to Clearwater, Florida in 1956, where Frank established a sign painting company, Sewell Signs. They bought a new house in the middle of an orange grove off Gulf to Bay and Mary was a stay-at-home mom, while her three children grew. In those days Mary did not drive, the family shared a party-line phone with four other families and the kids were raised free-range style, knowing to be home when Frank whistled for dinner! Soon Clearwater started growing and the backyard orange grove turned into St. Petersburg Junior College, Clearwater Campus. Mary got her license and began working at Bank of America in Tampa, where she stayed for 18 years. Mary also loved to shop and after retiring from the bank, she began a part-time job at the Clearwater Mall customer service booth. From then on, her grandchildren called her GrandMall. After 12 years at the mall, Mary left and began volunteering for Morton Plant Hospital information desk and Skycrest United Methodist Church, where she was an long-time member and loved her friends in the Mary Lydia Circle.
On her 90th Birthday in 2014, she was crowned Queen Mary at a lavish birthday party with all of her family and friends. Mary, the Grandmall Queen, was loved so much and will be greatly missed by everyone who knew her here on earth. We are sure she had a royal welcome at the pearly-gates by Our Savior, her family, and many friends, and maybe even Queen Elizabeth! They did have a lot in common.
We love and will miss you, Queen Mary.
Celebration of Life — Thursday, January 5th, 2022 at 2:00PM
Veterans Funeral Care — 830 N. Belcher Road — Clearwater, FL 33765
Memorial Service to Follow at 3:00 PM
Officiating — Minister Ryan Frack
Reception to Follow — Queen’s Pizza
1834 N Belcher Road — Clearwater, FL 33765
