Louellar McNear

Louellar McNear transitioned peacefully to be with the Lord on Saturday, July 12, 2025 in Joliet, IL at Prime Healthcare St. Joseph Joliet with loving family holding her hands. She was born on August 10, 1940, to loving parents, Willie B.C. and Louellar W. (nee Wright) Bew in Grenada, Mississippi.

Louellar attended grade school at Sweet Home and Carrie Dotson High School in Grenada, MS. She accepted Christ at an early age at Williamsville AME Church in Grenada, MS. She moved to Joliet, IL and joined Mt. Zion Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Issac Singleton, Sr. She was woman who loved God, her family and truth. She was not afraid to offer words of advice in hopes it would give comfort as well as convection, although she would choose the time for her words to penetrate the situation to help one assess themselves or the situation. She united in Holy Matrimony with Robert McNear and in that union their daughter, Armelda and son, Robert Duwayne joined the family.

Louellar loved to cook, her favorite dishes to prepare were Peach Cobbler, fried Fish and Chicken. For years she sold and delivered fish and chicken dinners on Fridays and Saturdays to some local industries, such as Caterpillar, Johns Manville and others. She loved traveling and moving from state to state, always ending up back in Joliet, IL. She also loved playing bid-wiz. She was employed at Shelby Craft-Co for many years, and she was a Baby-Sitter for many working parents. She loved children and each one under her supervision she would instill in them to strive to be the best they could become. She would tell them to set goals and work hard to achieve them, but most of all love God and trust Him. She will be remembered as a beacon of kindness and generosity. She leaves behind a legacy of love and selflessness that will continue to inspire those who knew her.

She is preceded in death by her parents; grandson, Cyrus Lonell Bew; one sister, Willie L. Lewis; three brothers, Ivory (Earnestine) Bew; James “Buddy” Bew and George G. Bew; precious nephews, Robert “Pic” Lewis, Dennis Scott, Darnell Reed and Karl Reed, Donnie (Karen) McElrath; Oscar Lewis and Kenneth Lewis; precious nieces, Mary Louise “Butter-roll” Mays and Gloria McElrath. 

Louellar’s memories will be cherished and her legacy will be kept alive through her loving daughter, Armelda Bew and son, Robert Duwayne (Sonja) McNear; two grandsons, Antonio McNear and Alex McNear; three great grandchildren, Delilah, Antonio and Emma; godson, Jerome (Demetria) Gray; five sisters, Armelda Scott, Ora L. (Coy) McElrath, Mamie (Telfair- deceased) Reed, Lorine (Sam) Mitchell and Dorothy (Cornelius) Gray; special friends, Sister Daisy Herod, Sister Gerry Hamilton, Rev. Gloria Brown and Pastor and 1st Lady Bennie Yarbough,; a host of precious nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends; Mt. Zion’s Care Team, Deacon and Deaconess Matt and Rhonda Heath, the Mission and Nurses Ministries; Care Teams at Prime St. Joseph Joliet ICU and Renwick Nursing Home.

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