04/20/2025
Paul Spencer Tew
September 26th, 1956 – April 16th, 2025
Zebulon - Paul Spencer Tew, born September 26, 1956, died unexpectedly of a heart attack on April 16, 2025. He was 68 years old. The family is devastated and shocked by his sudden death.
Paul is survived by his loving wife Christine Davis Tew of 43 years, and his children, Julia Anne Tew and Alexandra Davis Tew, his siblings, Sharon Tew Luihn (Mike), and Morgan Tew Bunn (Terry), as well as nieces and nephews, Tyler Bunn, Meredith Luihn, Catherine Bunn, Allison Luihn Johnson, and Harrison Bunn. He was predeceased by his father, Raymond E. Tew, and his mother, Nancy Donnally Tew.
Paul was born in Lakeland, Florida where he lived until the age of 3. After spending a short time in Tennessee, his family moved to Raleigh, North Carolina, so Ray could accept a job in Career Planning and Placement at NC State. Paul grew up in Raleigh and graduated from Sanderson High School. It was during those years on Lattimer Road that he made the closest friends he would ever have. That crew, affectionately called “the Lakemont boys,” continue to fill his and Chris’s lives. He attended North Carolina State University, but left to move to New Jersey with Steak and Ale Restaurant. It was there he met his wife, Chris. They quickly fell in love, married, and moved back to Raleigh in 1983 after Chris graduated from college. They started their family, eventually settling in Zebulon, where they stayed for the rest of his life. Paul worked in the food service industry for over 40 years and opened P. Spencer’s Restaurant in 1991, finishing his degree at NC Wesleyan during his restaurant years. After selling the restaurant in 1999, he transitioned to a position as a food service broker and spent the final 22 years of his career servicing restaurant owners across the state.
His greatest pride and joy came from his beloved daughters, Julia and Alexandra, Ali to her family. Together with Chris they created the host of many memories that will sustain them in the weeks, months, and years ahead. Paul and Chris were thrilled to finally buy the Grady White boat of Paul’s dreams in 2017, Someday Lady, and loved spending time at the coast, on the water, taking the family and friends out on excursions. He had just finished cleaning it up and polishing the hull last week in preparation for this coming season. In addition Paul enjoyed photography, target shooting, and he was one heck of a good chef! And he found no greater pleasure than a beautiful day on the golf course playing with “the boys.”
In 2010 Paul and Chris attended Pullen for the first time. After just one visit they decided to join that same month and have been thrilled to find a church home that was perfect for them.
Above all, Paul loved people. He never met a person with whom he could not find connection. He was enthusiastic about life and epitomized the great commandment to love your neighbor as yourself. He lived a life of meaningful acts of love and service, and in many ways made us all better people.
A memorial service in his honor will be held at Pullen Memorial Baptist Church on Saturday, April 26 at 2 pm in the sanctuary. In lieu of flowers please feel free to make donations in Paul’s memory to Pullen to the general fund, SOS – Save Our Sounds, a program of the NC Wildlife Federation, or the Ocean Conservancy.
