Evelyn Lewis

me, however, on September 21, 2014, while I am feeling well and extremely happy! The

words of the preacher—Ecclesiastes, “a season for everything” offers a perfect framework

for this task.

A season for being born June 11, 1934, to the parents of Mr. & Mrs. Frank Gary (both

deceased) in Columbia, SC. To that union 5 children were born: Dorothy, Evelyn, Frank, Jr II,

Albert Earl, and Constance.

A season for becoming aware of my surroundings, friends and family members. Before

entering kindergarten—I was referred to as “a dollar, a pre-school scholar” by the other

children who passed our gated one-story shotgun home in which we lived before my 6th

year old age. Shortly, after which we moved to a government project where there were a lot

of children and extended non-relatives who reported any misbehavior or misdeeds to our

parents or acted as parents on the spot.

During this time, church was the center of my world and the world of my siblings and

playmates. We spent all weekdays and all day on Sundays from early lessons, to services,

lunch, and youth clubs.

Seasons of education include kindergarten, elementary school, and middle school. But

my expected high school was not as expected as my father, an Air Force Sergeant, was

deployed to England. Our oldest sibling, Dorothy, did not go with the four of us. At that time,

my siblings were young English students in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades. We were enrolled in

foreign languages, algebra, and geometry. Higher subjects than I had been exposed to in

Columbia, SC. Due to my age and the ethnic differences, the government paid for me to

attend a private school where I received 2 years of tutorial instruction in all subjects except

religion, music, and sports.

This special treatment allowed me to learn how education worked—ie., reading

comprehension and mathematics.

Going to college presented a challenge and pleasure. I secured undergraduate and

graduate degrees from: Bennett College, Howard University, Springfield Mass. College and

a Doctorate from the University of Connecticut.

A season for marriage and raising a family. I married Attorney Paul Lewis in 1973. From

this union our one and only child, Christopher, joined the happy family.

During and in between the education and normal family seasons, I joined the AKA

Sorority, various organizations, and game groups—bridge, tennis, and chess players as well

as church organized clubs.

A season to not let your heart be sad. This is the time to rejoice that we had the

opportunity to meet and fellowship.

Now comes the season to cherish your memories of me. I leave: first and foremost—my

son, Chris, Albert Earl Gary (my brother), Constance Bowman (my sister), and adopted

grandchildren Zary, Danya, and Daiya Barrett, John Allen; a host of nieces and nephews to

include Binta, Amira and Keisha Coggins, William Douglas, Renee Scott, Tomika Gary Burke, Eric Gary, Reginald Scott Poasier, and Lorraine Stuckey.

I thank all of you for your love, friendship, and the joyous times that we spent together.

Me