Anita M. Lewis laid to rest

Anita M. Lewis , a retired homemaker, passed away on Wednesday, July 22, 2015, at the age of 81. She was one of 10 children born to the union of Florence Montegut Burns and William Burns.

She was born in New Orleans on August 3, 1933 and attended Valena C. Jones Elementary School, Fannie C. Williams Middle School and Joseph S. Clark Senior High School.

On a fateful day in the 7th Ward, while babysitting for a friend, she caught a glimpse of the love of her life, Dr. Lancelot S. Lewis Sr., who had recently moved to the United States from Panama and was living next door to the family Anita was babysitting for.

The two married on October 8, 1955. They shared eight children and 27 years of wedded bliss before Lancelot was called to his eternal home on February 25, 1982.

The night before her passing, she said repeatedly that she was ready to go and asked her children to “open the door.” Then she calmed down and said several times, “I love you forever — I promise.”

Anita Lewis is survived by four daughters, Gail Lewis Henry, Maria Lewis Wyndon, Anne Lewis Williams and Shelley Lewis Bridgewater; three sons, Lancelot Lewis Jr., Steven E. Lewis and Edmund W. Lewis; a sister, Gloria Burns Aaron; a brother, Melvin Burns; three sisters-in-law, Gladys Burns, Merceda Burns and Sr. Gloria Lewis; two brothers-in-law, Floyd Aaron Sr. and Basil Lewis; two daughters-in-law, Marjean Lewis and Wendy Lewis; four sons-in-law, Dereck Bridgewater Sr., Kevin Henry Sr., Tyrone Williams Sr. and Lance Wyndon; 16 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, friends and loved ones.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Lancelot S. Lewis Sr., a native of Panama and a U.S. veteran of the Korean War; and a son, Eric B. Lewis.

A Christian Mass and Homegoing Celebration was held on Saturday, followed by interment at St. Louis Cemetery No. 3. the Rev. Anthony M. Bozeman, SSJ, officiant.

Boyd Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

This article originally published in the August 3, 2015 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.