Avis was born to the late Alford and Janie Hardy, March 14, 2016, in Neshoba County, Mississippi. She graduated from Laurel Hill High School in 1934 and attended East Central Junior College in Decatur, MS. Somewhere during this time, she learned to dance the “Charleston” and until her death was always ready to demonstrate her dancing skills. She married the late Cecil Lewis (USAF) in 1939 and she and Cecil raised a family of five children on various Air Force bases in the U.S. and Europe until his retirement in 1959. Since that time, Brandon, Mississippi, has been their home.
Avis was a loving, caring mother and wife who always put the needs and wants of her family and friends before her own. A great cook and accomplished seamstress, all the birthday cakes, knitted blankets and hand-sewn items she made for her children and grandchildren, exemplified her devotion to family. Another example is after being a housewife and homemaker for most of her life, she entered the work force in her mid-forties and spent several years working on an assembly line to help provide for her children.
Avis was a faithful Christian and as long as her health allowed, she was an active member of First Baptist Church, Brandon, As a member of the senior choir and 49+ club, she loved to travel and took many trips with her church group.
Her husband Cecil preceded Avis in death in 1972. She is survived by four daughters: Mona Lewis of Oneonta, Al; Jan (Charles) Hudson of Pearl, MS; Dianne (Terry) Tigrett of Brandon, MS; Marie “Toni” Lewis Reed of Brandon, MS; and one son: James (Lana) Lewis of Madison, MS. She is survived by two sisters: Desma Kilpatrick and Carol Oliphant of Philadelphia, MS; and two brothers: Dewitt Hardy of Philadelphia, MS, and Winfred Hardy of Burkburnett, TX. She also is survived by eleven grandchildren and twenty-four great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation.
Visitation will be held at 1 p.m. until 2:45 p.m. Saturday at Baldwin Lee Funeral Home in Pearl, MS. Grave side service and burial will follow at 3:00 PM in Floral Hills Cemetery.
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