Mary E. Lewis

Mother Mary Elizabeth Lewis's soul was returned to God on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2010, at Bon Secours Memorial Regional Medical Center, Richmond, Va., after a sudden illness.

Mother Mary was born Jan. 15, 1926, in Lewisburg, N.C., to Freddie and Mattie Moss.

She was educated in the North Carolina Public School System. At the age of 16, Mother Mary moved from North Carolina to Petersburg, Va., to live with family and friends. She lived in Petersburg for several years before moving to Washington, D.C., to live with family. She worked at Howard University in the cafeteria; her specialty was making various types of salads for the faculty and students. Mother Mary would often travel from Washington to Petersburg to visit family; that's where she met her soon-to-be husband, Arthur L. Lewis. They united in holy matrimony in Washington, D.C. They lived in Washington, D.C., for several years before relocating back to Petersburg. Mother Mary work at Titmus Optical for many years before her and Papa Lewis became entrepreneurs of New Street Grocery Store, located at New Street and Harrison Street, for over 18 years.

She was a faithful member of Harvest International Full Gospel Baptist Center Inc. for over 30 years, under the pastoral leadership of Bishop Mary P. Bonner. Through her dedication and commitment to the church, she was one of the mothers of the church. Mother Mary served in the Women's Choir and the Mass Choir, singing praise to the Lord which she enjoyed. She often traveled with the church from Maryland to North Carolina for church services. Whenever the church doors were opened for services you could always count on Mother Mary being right there. She truly loved the bishop and her church family.

Mother Mary was a giving and loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend to all. She always had a smile or words of encouragement to those she know or to a complete stranger. Her words every morning were, "Thank you Lord for waking me up this morning, because it didn't have to be this way." If one was experiencing problems in their life she would say, "Talk to the Big Master for He is on time God."

We will truly miss Mother Mary, yet we are thankful and grateful that God blessed us with her wonderful soul.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Arthur L. Lewis; a son, Arthur Lewis Jr.; her parents; three sisters; and four brothers.

She is survived by two daughters, Gloria Lewis Abdul-Hamid (Manu) of Richmond, Va., and Lisa Lewis Allen (Lawrence) of Petersburg, Va.; son, Alfonzo Lewis (Tawana) of Petersburg, Va.; grandchildren, Julius Walker (Marcia), Jessica Thomas (John), Quentin Lewis-Diggs, Kiara Lewis (Shaun), Arnita Lewis, Moneá Allen and Anthony Lewis; great-grandchildren, Jodeci Taylor (Decarla) and Knowoyé Lewis-Glenn; sisters, Gladys Perry and Fannie Wilson, both of New York; brother, David Moss of New York; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

A special thanks to the staff of Viable Adult Daycare Center, Transitional Home Health Aides, Bishop Bonner and the Harvest International Full Gospel Center Family, and to others that assisted with the care, support, encouragement and prayer of Mother Mary too numerous to name.

A funeral service will be held 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 1, 2010, at Harvest International Full Gospel Baptist Center Inc., 1017 W. Washington St., Petersburg, Va.; Bishop Mary P. Bonner, pastor, eulogist. The interment to follow at the Wilkerson Memorial Cemetery.

Honorary and active pallbearers are asked to assemble 1:30 p.m. at the church.

The family will assemble 1 p.m. the day of the service and receive friends at 3020 Homestead Drive, Petersburg, Va. The family will also receive friends at 818 Chimborozo Blvd., Richmond, Va., and may be contacted by calling (804) 862-1536, (804) 652-1715 or (804) 218-1053.

Family members and friends are invited to pay final tribute to Mother Lewis online at www.jmwilkersonsince1874.com where you may view a video tribute online or at the establishment.

Funeral arrangements entrusted to the staff of J.M. Wilkerson Funeral Establishment Inc., 102 South Ave., Petersburg, Va., (804) 732-8911, www.jmwilkersonsince1874.com.