OBITUARY
“Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, "Write: 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.' " "Yes," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them." Revelation 14:12-13 (NKJV)
Frances Harris Lewis was born July 15, 1940, to Henry and Myrtle Harris, in Homer, Louisiana in the rural community known then as Pinehill. She was the oldest survivor of the descendants of Henry and Myrtle Harris. Preceded in death by her parents, and 8 siblings: 4 brothers (Clyde, John, Ray, Charles), 4 sisters (Nellie, Monier, Mary, Margie).
SPIRITUAL LIFE
Having grown up in a religious family who were regular in church attendance and service, Frances obeyed the Gospel of Christ at an early age and became a member of the Church of Christ. She remained loyal to the church throughout her life, but that loyalty reached it apex in the maturing years as she became more involved in the life of the church and its outreaching ministries. She taught classes, sang in the choir, participated in evangelism events and lectureships. In traveling with church events around the nation, she made herself useful in achieving the objectives. One of her favorite projects was to help her brother Loyd with his Bible displays. She often managed the store while he was engaged in workshops and attending sessions or leading evangelism teams.
TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT
Frances left school before finishing the twelfth grade. However, she later returned to school for special training and certification as a medical clerk. She received Nurse Aid training at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana. She worked at Methodist Hospital in the Nursery until she left and moved to Denver, CO where she worked at the children’s hospital. From Children’s hospital she worked at Rhodes Hospital and later went to St. Joseph’s hospital to make application for part-time work and discovered that they were making more money. They offered her a fulltime position as the nurse’s assistant in orthopedic. She transferred to New Born Nursery. She worked in and around the medical profession most of her life. First as a caregiver for sick or handicapped persons, later as an aide, and finally as a medical clerk and receptionist.
TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT
Frances left school before finishing the twelfth grade. However, she later returned to school for special training and certification as a medical clerk. She received Nurse Aid training at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana. She worked at Methodist Hospital in the Nursery until she left and moved to Denver, CO where she worked at the children’s hospital. From Children’s hospital she worked at Rhodes Hospital and later went to St. Joseph’s hospital to make application for part-time work and discovered that they were making more money They offered her a fulltime position as the nurse’s assistant in orthopedic. She transferred to New Born Nursery. She worked in and around the medical profession most of her life. First as a caregiver for sick or handicapped persons, later as an aide, and finally as a medical clerk and receptionist. During most of her career she was also an accomplished Mary Kay representative.
She later had a bout with breast cancer, but that did not stop her. She went through the surgery and recovery, and she bounced back and kept pushing. On the day she was traveling from Denver to Houston to attend the funeral of her sister Nellie, she was a passenger in a car accident that left her with a broken back and requiring special treatment. She went to Indianapolis to live with her sister Velma who was loving and caring to her. But her condition escalated to Alzheimer and required specialized treatment in a rehabilitation center. While there, her health failed and her life came to an end on April 10 almost exactly two years after her brother Charles.
As Frances rests from her labors, she leaves to reflect on her life two sisters, Velma (Harris) Williams of Indianapolis and Thelma (Harris) Sumlin of Springhill, LA; two brothers, Thomas Harris (Kathryn) of Shreveport, LA and Loyd (Ora) Harris of North Little Rock, AR and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins; other relatives and friends and a multitude of comrads in her various professions, and untold numbers of fellow saints who are thankful to have known her and lived in her time..