‘This will be a hard one to get over.’ SC waitress who died suddenly mourned by community

Whenever Melvina Lewis came to Ernie’s Hometown Diner, waitress Tammy Ward would have a coffee, a water and a big smile waiting for her.

“When she saw my truck, she would get everything ready,” Lewis said. Lewis would time her visits to see Tammy at the Loris diner.

When Lewis found out Tammy, 55, had suddenly passed away from a heart attack on March 11, she said it was “such a shock.”

Tammy was a staple in the Loris community. She had worked at Ernie’s Hometown Diner for about six years, would frequent stores in the area and was always friendly.

Most people know each other in this Horry County city, and Ernie’s is one of the few diners located in the town. It’s a place where locals like to hang out.

The loss of Tammy has been tough for the community. Ernie Ross, owner of Ernie’s Hometown Diner, said her funeral was packed, with only standing room available.

“This will be a hard one to get over,” Ernie Ross said.

A community was created at the diner

Ernie Ross got the call about Tammy’s death while he was opening the diner on March 12. He closed the diner and placed a black bow on the front door. In the days following, Ross kept the diner closed.

“We tried to open Wednesday (March 13), but we locked the doors back up,” he said. “Thursday we closed because we didn’t want to be here.”

One day, Ross came to the diner and found a bouquet of flowers in the front doors’ handle. It had a note that read, “Rest in peace Tammy. We are going to miss you.”

Multiple people at the restaurant said Tammy loved to serve and make people happy. Marjorie Ross, Ernie Ross’ wife, said that was evident in the large tips Tammy would receive.

“Customers could go in feeling down in the morning and when they leave there, Tammy would have them perked up,” said Mary Ward, Tammy’s mother.

Ward said Tammy enjoyed working at the diner because she was a people person. She loved to meet new people and take care of her loyal regulars.

One regular included a homeless man who would come in everyday and order coffee. He wasn’t able to pay, so Tammy would pay for his coffee with her own money, Ernie Ross said.

“When he found out she died, he literally sobbed,” Ross said. “He said, ‘She was always very kind to me.’”

A close relationship with her family

Born and raised in Loris, Tammy attended the local schools, and she and her family became well-known in the community due to her father’s business, Charlie Ward Wiring & Plumbing. Ross said he didn’t know Tammy before hiring her, but he knew her dad, as did most businesses.

Mary Ward said Tammy was someone who would see a problem and solve it. Often without praise.

When Marjorie Ross was having health problems, Tammy would drive her to the hospital. She said she wanted to repay Tammy for her time, but Tammy would refuse. Marjorie Ross eventually started to leave cash in the car whenever Tammy drove her to the hospital.

Tammy was busy planning surprise birthday parties for her parents before she died, Mary Ward said. She had the cake ordered for her dad and had coordinated with Ernie Ross to host the parties at the diner.

Mary Ward said during Tammy’s younger years, she made sure to be a mom to her, but as an adult, she and Tammy were best friends.

Even her co-workers and boss became like family.

Ernie Ross said although they weren’t related, Tammy felt like his sister. They grew close during the years that Tammy worked for him.

Ross hung up a photo of Tammy on the diner’s wall where customers can see it. It’s his way of making sure she will be remembered.

“Everyday was a memory,” Marjorie Ross said. “She was a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day.”