Elizabeth Dennis Lewis’ gracious manner, kindness, and thoughtfulness reflected her southern roots. She was born on May 15, 1929 in Bullock County, Alabama, to the late Julia (Goodwin) and Cleveland Dennis Sr. She was the youngest of eight children and was preceded in death by her beloved siblings, Theresa Carter, Dorothy Dennis, Willie Jean Youngblood, Goodwin Dennis, Ardanus Pryor, Cleveland Dennis Jr., and Elisher Dennis, all of whom she said, “taught her everything she knew’: Elizabeth transcended this life on April 6, 2015.
Elizabeth was baptized at Old Sardis Baptist Church in Union Springs, Alabama, but after moving to Birmingham, she became a member of First Baptist Church of Ensley, the Reverend Wesley Thomas was the pastor. Under the pastoral leadership of Reverend Thomas Gilmore, she and husband Walter were one of his faithful 8:00 a.m. morning members; attending church regularly, until her health began to fail.
Elizabeth was a 1947 graduate of Snow Hill Institute in Snow Hill, Alabama. It was in 1949 when she met Walter Lewis Jr. and became a model of how a wife should love and care for her husband. Their wedding on January 14, 1950 launched a lifetime of shared blessings. The only wedding vow she broke was “until death do us part” because even until death, she remained committed to Walter Lewis Jr., the man she loved and cared for deeply.
She created a beautiful childhood for her beloved son and daughter, Alric Norris and Alexis Yvonne.
She was a mother in the true sense of the word, always offering encouragement and the occasional discipline, if needed. Dear always said, “be kind to everyone you meet, because you never know when someone will have to help you:’ Dear obviously made an impact on her son when he married Elizabeth Sewell (who preceded her in death). Besides sharing names, they shared birth dates, too. When her daughter Alexis married, she welcomed to the family son-in-law Robert J. Lee, whom she often referred to as “my son:’ Her granddaughters, Jauan Natasha Patterson and Jamesa Elizabeth Lee and grandson, Brian Sewell, added richness to her life that she so deserved.
During the early years, Elizabeth would often walk Avenue R to gather donations for the March of Dimes and collect money for flowers for illness and bereavement. She was a member of the neighborhood Block Club and past President of Councill Elementary School’s Parent Teachers Association.
Elizabeth was held in high esteem by her family, friends, and neighbors in the Ensley community and close enduring bonds were formed as they reared their children, laughed and prayed together.
She enjoyed daily chats with her brother-in-law Ples Erskine Lewis; she and close friend Cassanna Spiegner always tried to see who could “out talk” the other on who was right. Elizabeth’s good friends for decades to name a few were: Christine Newman, Edward Gragg, Bessie Edwards, Lucille Herbert, Johnetta Morman, and Bessie Thrash. Pearlie Edwards, who at the age of 103 continued to call and visit. Their loss is profound and they will miss her sorely.
Whether she was referenced by many as Dear, Grandma, Grandma Dear, Auntie, Tee or “Mutt”, she was dearly loved by all and she loved everyone unconditionally. She continued to be a lovely, stately flower steeled with maturity and courage. Everyone knew that if there was something to be told, after telling God, as a trusted confidant, they could tell her. Now, those private words will have to be whispered to her in prayer.
Elizabeth leaves to cherish her memory, loving husband, Walter Lewis Jr.; son, Minister Alric Norris Lewis, Birmingham, AL; daughter, Alexis Yvonne (Robert) Lee, Pelham, AL; grandchildren, Jauan Natasha (Edjuan Sr.) Patterson, Lithonia, GA; Jamesa Elizabeth Lee, Northville, MI; and Brian (Latika) Sewell, Birmingham, AL; great grandchildren, Edjuan Patterson Jr., Riley James Patterson, Brian Sewell Jr., Keonte, Jeremiah, and Brianna Elizabeth Sewell; sister-in-law, Susie Dennis, Miami, FL; brother-in-law, Ples Erskine Lewis; aunt, Opal Goodwin; nieces, Rozelle (Isom) Shelton, Union Springs, AL; Edna Wilks, Alcombria Smith, San Francisco, CA; Julia Y. Hodge, Doris Y. Washington, Birmingham, AL; Judy Dennis (Charles) Edwards, Janet Pryor, Miami, FL; and Jocelyn Thigpen, Birmingham, AL; nephews, Curtis (June) Dennis, Miramar, FL; Kenneth (Loretta) Dennis, Sr., Richmond, VA; William (Theria) Pryor, Miami, FL; and Merrideth Lewis, Birmingham, AL; numerous great nephews and great nieces; great-great nephews and great-great nieces; loving family members, “special daughters” Patricia Ann Evans and Roslyn Jones; cherished friends and her church family.
Elizabeth lived a complete life and for that, we cannot grieve. However, grief is the price one pays for losing a family treasure. Just like a rose, she gathered her strength from God’s blessings until each loving petal had fallen. Although our family matriarch has gone home to be with our Lord, let us draw our strength from her example, build on her gifts and continue to bloom.
The staff of Carter Funeral Home is honored to have served the family of the late Mrs. Elizabeth Dennis Lewis and join the family in an extreme expression of gratitude for the care and support extended to them during the illness and demise of their precious loved one.