Mary Ion Moore

Mary Ion Ewell Moore, was born on September 12, 1928 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to the late Linwood H. Ewell, Sr. and the late Lillian M. (Roberts) Ewell. She departed this life on March 19, 2022 after a brief illness. She had an older brother, the late Linwood H. Ewell, Jr., and she was the baby of the family and her daddy’s pride and joy.

Ion was educated in the Philadelphia Public School System and graduated from Simon Gratz High School in 1946. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Social Studies from West Virginia State College (now University) in 1950. She was a life member of the Alumni Association and was active in the WVSU Philadelphia/ Delaware Valley Chapter. While at West Virginia State, Ion was initiated into the Alpha Delta Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She was a Diamond Life Member and was active in the Philadelphia Alumnae Chapter.

It was at West Virginia State that Ion met the love of her life, Henry L. Moore, the first day on campus in the registration line. They were married on September 8, 1951 and settled in Philadelphia. They were blessed with two daughters, Nadene Indeara and Meva Ion. Throughout the years, Ion and Henry loved traveling across the country by car, train, and auto train on family trips and as a couple. On some of these trips, Ion accompanied her husband to Phi Beta Sigma, Inc. conventions in her role as a Sigma Shadow.

Ion worked at the Veterans Administration in Philadelphia and then moved to Washington, D.C., following her husband’s job. Upon returning to Philadelphia, she worked as a Social Worker for the Pennsylvania State Department of Public Assistance until she decided to stay at home and take care of her daughters Ion joined the Second Baptist Church in Nicetown during her youth. In 1961, she joined Summit Presbyterian Church in Mount Airy. She served as a Deacon and Elder, and was a member of several committees, notably the Pastoral Nominating Committee and Worship Committee. She also sang in the Chancel Choir. Ion felt that her most important role was as a wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and mentor to many.

She had a sense of accomplishment as she saw her daughters and grandchildren graduate from various institutions of higher learning. She leaves to cherish her memory, daughters Nadene Moore and Meva Moore Justice (Kenneth Justice); grandsons Keith Justice (Toccara Hilliard Justice) and Mark Justice (Stephanie Mazariegos); great-grandson, SoL Justice, and a host of relatives and friends.

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