Roy Birbridge “Ridge” Sewell

Roy Birbridge “Ridge” Sewell, 79 years old, of Beaumont, Texas, passed away on Monday, January 23, 2023, in Beaumont, Texas.

Born in San Angelo, Texas, on April 20, 1943, Ridge is the son of Roy W. and Geneva Seal Sewell.

Ridge grew up in Coleman, Texas, where he made a profession of faith at eight years old. He then lived in Beaumont, Texas, where he attended French High School. Moving back to Coleman, Ridge graduated from Coleman High School in 1961. On August 14, 1965, he married his college sweetheart, Janet Faver. He graduated from Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas in 1968, obtaining a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. He furthered his studies in banking at Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois, and SMU in Dallas, Texas. Having worked at First State Bank and West Texas Utilities in Abilene, Texas, in 1970, they relocated to Houston, Texas, where Ridge worked for Houston National Bank in Corporate Trust and Stock Transfer for 11 years. This career path led him to Gulf States Utilities Company in Beaumont, Texas. He later worked in financial planning, insurance sales and education.

While attending Hardin-Simmons University Ridge played the trumpet in the Famous Cowboy Band. In 1963, the band was part of the Billy Graham New Life Movement in Japan. He was a member of Phi Mu Alpha Men’s Music Fraternity. With a heart for serving others, he was a part of the Abilene Jaycees, served as a deacon at Willow Meadows Baptist Church in Houston, Texas, and at First Baptist Church in Beaumont, Texas. He was passionate about encouraging and serving others through the Hands Up Inner City Ministry.

Ridge was preceded in death by his parents of Houston, Texas.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Janet Faver Sewell, his three daughters, Courtney and husband Jeremy Cole of Buchanan Dam, Texas, Christin Johnson of Norman, Oklahoma, Casey and husband Michael Baugh of Colorado Springs, Colorado. His grandchildren include Meghan and husband Grayson Warren, Molly Johnson, Montgomery Johnson, Caitlyn and husband Logan Canterbury, Alexandra and husband Michael Kear, Cole Baugh and Morgan Baugh. His two great-grandchildren are Belle Elizabeth Warren and Rhett Waylon Canterbury. Ridge is also survived by his two sisters and their husbands Jane Grace and Dave Craft, Suzzanne and Patrick Moore, sisters-in-law, Gwen Crawford and Dr. Catherine Faver, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will take place on Friday, January 27, 2023, at Claybar Kelley-Watkins Funeral Home in Beaumont, Texas, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The funeral service will be held at First Baptist Church in Beaumont, Texas, January 28, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. Burial will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Beaumont, Texas.

Serving as pallbearers are Jeremy Cole, Michael Baugh, Trenton Crawford, Logan Canterbury, Michael Kear, Montgomery Johnson and Cole Baugh.

Honorary pallbearers are the deacons of First Baptist Church of Beaumont, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Missions Ministry at First Baptist Church of Beaumont, Texas.