Shung Moo Jew

Shung Moo was born February 11, 1922 in the village of Mau Gong, Hoi Ping in Guangdong, China, the only child of Pak Tse Fong and Len Y. Jew. After the untimely death of his father, a U.S. citizen, the 13-year-old Shung Moo, suddenly the sole support of his mother as well as himself, immigrated to the U.S. to find work. Determined to fulfill his filial responsibility, he worked numerous jobs – grocery stockboy, janitor, busboy, waiter, short order cook, construction site crew- which gave him the chance to travel to different parts of the country. But the job he enjoyed the most and telling about the most was training and working as a welder in the navy shipyard in Portland, Oregon, prior to serving in the U.S. Army during WWII.

In 1948, following traditional Chinese custom, Shung Moo traveled back to China to marry Bo Chee Seto. They decided to settle in Greenwood, Mississippi, and after a short time, celebrated the opening of their grocery store Joe’s Market, which they owned and operated for over 50 years. Lifelong customers and subsequent generations of their families came from nearby as well as distant neighborhoods, and from rural farms outside town (the “country’). Families who had moved away to the “big city” made sure to always stop by when in Greenwood for holidays and vacations. The quality of the store’s meat market drew customers from all over town. Shung Moo and Bo Chee worked long and grueling hours to achieve the quality and service Joe’s Market became known for. But factors just as important, if not more so, in the store’s success were their relationships with their customers. Their customers saw them as friends and integral to the community, there for each other in good times and not so good times: “It was Mister and Miz Joe who helped feed me and my family when I couldn’t,” was a refrain repeated many times.

Shung Moo enjoyed sharing stories about his childhood, his adventures as a young man finding his way in a strange country, and the routine as well as the special events he experienced in his long life. His perspective was usually humorous and always positive. He spoke of his life as having been full of “good fortune”: the unexpected kindness of friends and strangers towards an orphan and later to an impoverished newlywed couple; the success of a business that enabled a comfortable life and good educations for his children and grandchildren; and most of all, a devoted, loving wife and lifetime helpmate, who gave him a happy, healthy family. He felt a responsibility to share and pay forward such good fortune and took many opportunities to do so. Friends and relatives in China were always remembered with gifts of money so they could “buy meat” to celebrate holidays. With his support and sponsorship, numerous family members and friends were able to immigrate to the U.S. and given the start to achieve their own American dream. The Chinese community in Greenwood and throughout Mississippi regarded him as a trusted and respected leader and friend, who could always be counted on for help, be it problems with a store’s various operating licenses or other matters, a family’s need for a temporary home, or assistance to newcomers to set up their own grocery stores.

The heart of Shung Moo’s life was his absolute love for, and devotion to, his family, and his greatest happiness came from seeing and knowing that these were returned in full. He is survived by his children, Jean, Evelyn Berger, Herman, Sam (Pam), and Bobby (Christina); grandchildren, Ashley Markham (Clay), Nicholas (Leisel), Nathan (Alexa), and Christopher (Klare); great-grandchildren, Nora, Jack, Caldwell, Evelyn Ellis, Gresham and Ann Lawson. He was preceded in death by his wife Bo Chee and his father and mother.

A Memorial and Celebration of Life service for Shung Moo together with his son-in-law Dick Berger, who died March 1, will be held Sunday, April 3, 2022, at 2:00 pm at Parkway Funeral Home, 1161 Highland Colony Pkwy, Ridgeland, Mississippi.

In lieu of flowers or other gifts, please consider making memorial donations to: Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development, in honor of Shung M. Jew ( This can be done by sending a check to Mayo Clinic Department of Development, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905 or calling 1-855-852-8129 for information on how to give your donation online or securely over the telephone).