Melvin “Grant” Tew passed away at home on May 11, 2026, surrounded by family and friends. Grant was a resident of Washington, NC. He was born on April 20, 1946 in Tarboro, NC to Talmon Reldon Tew and Daphne Williamson Tew. His kind and precious parents both lived to be 92 years old.

A graveside service will be held at 11:00, Saturday, May 16, 2026 at Edgecombe Memorial Park, Tarboro, NC, officiated by Paston Stephen Bazanne, with visitation following the service.

Grant attended Tarboro High School and played football, baseball and basketball. He married his high school sweetheart, Bonnie Brown Tew and they shared forty years of marriage until her death in 1999.

Grant is survived by his wife Diana Smith Tew, son Troy G. Tew (Kathy) and daughter Leslie T. Schneering (Russell); stepsons Grant A. Smith and Mark M. Smith. He is also survived by grandchildren Taylor Tew (Jessica), Anna North (T.J.), Emily Schneering and Jonathan Schneering (Amanda); step grandchildren Sloane Smith and Winnie Smith. He is survived by two great granddaughters (Rylie North and Adalyn Tew). Additional surviving family members include his brother Carlton Tew (Ethel) and Mary Eleanor Brewer and six nephews and one niece along with several cousins.

Grant began his career in construction at the age of ten working with his daddy building houses in Tarboro, NC. He then began a career with the Tarboro Police Department and from there became an NC Highway State Trooper. He finally came back to his roots in construction working with Hudson Construction as a project manager building commercial and industrial buildings. His final career was working as a licensed NC Home Inspector.

Grant loved off-shore fishing and hunting. But as the years passed he loved spending time in the woods watching wildlife and had trail cameras to view fox squirrels, bear, turkey and deer.

Memorials can be made to your charity of choice or First Methodist Church, 304 W. Second St., Washington NC 27889 with memorials designated for Matthew 25.