Ida L Lewis' Obituary
Ida L. Lewis, 88, of Columbia, Missouri, passed away on Tuesday, November 29, 2016, at Columbia Manor. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, December 3, 2016, at H.T. May and Son Funeral Home in Columbia at 1:00 PM. Visitation will be from 11-1 PM Saturday at the funeral home.
Ida Lucille Lewis was born on July 2, 1928 to Thornton Hueston and Gertrude Smith in Columbia, Missouri. She began elementary school at the age of five in 1933 and graduated from from Douglass High School in 1945. Five years later, she married Floyd Lewis, Jr. in 1950, who left to be in the arms of the Lord in 1974. She was the youngest of five siblings, some 10 years younger than her first-born sister.
Her closest friends affectionately referred to her as “Tights.” And some of her early pop song favorites were “Your Feet’s too Big” by Fats Waller, “Hold Tight” by the Andrew Sisters, and “Blueberry Hill” by Fats Domino. She loved watching Nat King Cole, Jackie Wilson, and Chubby Checker perform live on television. She also was an enthusiastic fan of the legendary B.B. King and one of her favorite songs by him was the top charted, “I Like to Live the Love.”
She also was an avid reader and delighted in the books her granddaughter and family gave on special occasions like her birthday and Christmas.
Early in her career, Mrs. Lewis worked as a domestic worker (maid) for a number of prominent businesses, doctors and educational leaders in Columbia and at the University of Missouri. She later worked as a clerk for several department stores on or near Broadway Street. Ultimately, she settled into a career as an administrative clerk for the University of Missouri Hospital until her retirement in the early 1990s.
After retirement, Mrs. Lewis loved to be around children, particularly her grand and great-grandchildren, and was a volunteer for the Foster Grandparents program in Columbia for over a decade.
Ida is survived by four children (in order of birth): Dr. Jabari Simama [Frederick Lewis] (Nisha Simama) of Atlanta; Jill Lewis, who was a loyal daughter who remained by her side through the illness, of Columbia; Jarrell Lewis of Atlanta; and Charlynn Lewis-Dawson [Eddie David Dawson] also of Atlanta.
Mrs. Lewis also has ten grandchildren (in order of birth): Ronald Cross, Ronica Cross, Famous Lewis, Ndelea Simama, Kizzy Lewis-Phillips, Sashiara Foster, Stephanie Ballenger, Shannon Lewis, Nicole Lewis, and Naje’ Simama. And scores of great-grandchildren. Mrs. Lewis also leaves behind many loving friends, especially, Ms. Maxine Taylor Nelson, whom Ida considered a daughter and member of the family.
Mrs. Lewis was preceded in death by four siblings: Lillie Corine Miles, Catherine Scott, Harry Hueston, and Willie Thornton. Sadly, also her promotion to be with the Lord was preceded by the heavenly transition of four children (in order of transition): James Lewis, Jeffrey Lewis, Marcelyn (Kay) Lewis, and Joan Lewis. And, of course, mother, Gertrude, and father, Thornton left decades earlier to make a way for Ida to be in her final resting place with King Jesus.
What’s your fondest memory of Ida?
What’s a lesson you learned from Ida?
Share a story where Ida's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Ida you’ll never forget.
How did Ida make you smile?