Nancy Stutsman Lewis

Atlanta - "Lord, thou hast been our refuge, from one generation to another." Psalm 90

Nancy Terrell Stutsman Lewis, a native Louisianian, died on November 10th, 2025, in Atlanta, Georgia. Throughout her life, Mrs. Lewis exuded the indomitable energy and optimism of her forebears, who bravely set sail for America in the seventeenth century, fought for the independence of our country, and successfully settled The American West. Nancy lived according to the ethos of what she termed her familial "pioneer spirit": tenaciously tackling every endeavor with dogged determination. Like her adventurous ancestors, her fierce fortitude stemmed from a firm commitment to the tenets of her Christian faith.

Nancy dearly loved Louisiana, and her lineage there stretched back more than two hundred years. Descendants of her maternal ancestors first moved to Winn Parish and Grant Parish, near Nachitoches, the oldest permanent settlement in The Louisiana Purchase Territory. The community of Hargis, Louisiana, was named after her ancestor, Dr. Quincy Anson Hargis, a polymath and a physician in the American Civil War. Her great-grandfather Hargis provided a college education for all nine of his children, even the daughters, which was unusual in those days. Consequently, Nancy's learned grandmother, Ella Hargis White, benefited from a classical education and read Greek and Latin. She and Nancy's altruistic grandfather, John Terrell White, proved to be formative influences on her intellect and character. Nancy continued to emphasize the importance of family, religion, and education in her own life and for her three daughters and seven grandchildren.

Mrs. Lewis was born on July 28th, 1941, in Shreveport, to Mary Elizabeth White and World War II Bronze Star Recipient Earl J. ("Jack") Stutsman, Jr. Nancy attended Greenwood High School, where she was elected "Miss Greenwood," among numerous other accolades. She earned a bachelor of arts in journalism from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, where she met her husband of 39 years, Charles Clinton Lewis. Nancy served as campaign manager for his successful election to LSU Student Body President. She enjoyed her involvement in Chi Omega sorority and as editor-in-chief of the yearbook, The Gumbo. Nancy was honored as one of only nine LSU senior women to be named to Mortar Board, a national honor society focused on scholarship, leadership, and service. She devoted her life to upholding these three principles: as an active supporter of her children's schools, serving on the board of Epiphany Day School and as President of the Episcopal School of Acadiana Parent Group; and as a member of the Junior Leagues of Shreveport, Baton Rouge, and Lafayette. An avid collector of art and antiques, Nancy was chosen to be the arts chair of the first Red River Revel Arts Festival with The Junior League of Shreveport, and she co-chaired the Revel the following year.

Mrs. Lewis continued her community service in New Iberia, where she contributed significantly to several nonprofits. For the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany, she dedicated a considerable amount of time as a member of the Vestry, Chairman of the Altar Guild, Sunday School teacher, Lector, and an Usher and on the Board of Trustees of the Solomon House Outreach Center. Mrs. Lewis served as President of the New Iberia Medical Auxiliary and on the board of the Iberia Division of the American Heart Association. For many years, Nancy volunteered with the popular community event, "Taste of the Teche" and on The Shadows-on-the-Teche Service League, where she worked as a tour guide and on the cookbook committee. Nancy always managed to make time to learn and have fun with friends, serving as President of Fortnightly VI and as a maid in the Mardi Gras Krewes of Andalusia and Iberia.

Nancy was an ardent enthusiast of alliteration, antiques, A. Hays Town architecture, Louisiana art, birthday celebrations, calligraphy, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Chinese export porcelain, church on Sundays, Community coffee, conversation, cookbooks, crawfish etouffee, embellished stories, engraved stationery, entertaining, The Episcopal Book of Common Prayer, family gatherings, Fortnightly, fountain pens, steadfast friendships, genealogy, proper grammar, gumbo, horses, investing, laughter, red lipstick (but not red fingernail polish), lists, manners, Mardi Gras, monograms, oriental rugs, family photographs, pimento cheese, positive attitudes, Profitseekers club, inspirational quotations, rhymes, old silver, Supper Club, Tabasco sauce, tea caddies, high-mileage Volvo station wagons, and fine writing.

Mrs. Lewis was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Charles Clinton Lewis, M.D., and his parents, Evelyn Rigsby and Charles Calbert Lewis, Jr., of Crowley, Louisiana. She is survived by her three daughters: Laura Terrell Lewis O'Connor and her husband, Kevin O'Connor; Ellen Rigsby Lewis Gildea and her husband, David Patrick Kevin Gildea; and Mary Ayres Lewis Griggs and her husband, Richard Anthony Griggs; and seven grandchildren: Peyton Terrell Elizabeth Shelburne; Elizabeth Darden Gildea; Craig Whitfield Lewis Shelburne; Edward Rigsby Gildea; John Rigsby Aldredge Shelburne; Henry Havard Griggs; and John Tilford Lowell Griggs.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, January 5th, 2026, at 11:00 AM, at the historic Episcopal Church of the Epiphany, 303 West Main Street, New Iberia, Louisiana. Visiting hours will be observed from 10:00 to 10:45 AM in the Parish Hall of the church. A reception will follow the service at the Parish Hall.

The family wishes to thank the wonderful staff at The Terraces at Peachtree Hills Place in Atlanta for their excellent and loving care of Mrs. Lewis over the years.

In lieu of flowers, please consider sending a memorial contribution to one of the following organizations: a) Solomon House, a nonprofit outreach mission of the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany at solomonhouse.org or mail a check to 520 Center Street, New Iberia, LA 70560; b) Episcopal School of Acadiana Strength to Strength Campaign: esacadiana.com or P.O. Box 380, Cade, LA 70519; or c) Nancy Stutsman Lewis Memorial Gift to Emory University Goizueta Alzheimer's Disease Research Center at https://giving.emory.edu/products/goizueta-alz-research-general-gifts or mail to Emory University-Office of Gift Accounting, 1762 Clifton Road, Suite 2400, Atlanta, GA 30322 (note support of GADRC in memory of Nancy T. Stutsman Lewis in memo of check).

Because I feel that, in the Heavens above,

The angels, whispering to one another,

Can find, among their burning terms of love,

None so devotional as that of 'Mother'

Edgar Allan Poe