In Loving Memory of our beloved Mother…Natalie Richardson Lewis

July 24, 1934 —April 28, 2021

 On April 28, 2021, our Beloved Mother, Natalie Lewis, slipped away to her home in Glory to be with the Lord.

Natalie was born on July 24, 1934, in Englewood, New Jersey, to the late Harry and Essie Richardson.  She was the oldest of 5 children.  She was raised and educated in Englewood, NJ and attended secretarial school.  Upon graduation she went to work in New York City as an executive secretary.  After meeting the love of her life, Jesse Lewis, she was blessed with five children and stopped working to raise them.  Natalie later returned to the workforce, where she worked as a receptionist for Bergen County Social Services for 25 years, until her retirement in 2003.

Natalie loved the Lord and served well. She was a member of Galilee United Methodist Church in Englewood NJ for most her life.  She was member of the Women’s Auxiliary Board and Hospitality Board.  In later years, after relocating to Newport News, VA, she joined Zion Baptist Church in Hampton, VA.  She was a member of the Deaconess Board and served on the Outreach Ministry helping to distribute food and with children’s programs.  Natalie also served as a receptionist briefly for her Church in Fresno, CA. She was an active member of the Grateful Ladies Optimistic Wise Authentic Lovely Knowledgeable Sisterhood (GloWalk Sisterhood), which performed outreach in the community by going to nursing homes to sing with residents and serve meals.  She was a mentor for the younger women in the organization by providing leadership and guidance on parenting. 

Natalie was an avid reader and a fan of the performing arts.  She devoured books so quickly that you could not keep her supplied.  She loved attending Broadway shows and theater.  Natalie never learned to drive, but that never stopped her.  She loved to travel.   She traveled by bus, rail, and air all around the Country and the world.  She even took her oldest granddaughter on summer trips that highlighted different historical legs of the Underground Railroad along the East Coast and into Canada.  Natalie loved her family and friends.  She was always calling, visiting, and keeping check on everyone.  She was fierce and protective of her family.   She was wise, strong, kind, gentle, and soft spoken, but she could also be very feisty.  Natalie was a true example of a Godly women who loved everyone unconditionally without regard for herself.  Natalie never met a person that was a stranger.   She loved people, whomever they might be, without judgment.  Her deep and abiding faith carried her through many of life’s struggles.   

Besides her late parents, and two siblings, Natalie was predeceased by one son, Wayne K. Lewis, and her husband Jesse Lee Lewis.  She leaves to cherish her fond memories, four children, Jesse Lewis, Jr., Maureen Lewis (Anthony), Jennifer Barksdale (David), and Marc Lewis; nine grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; two brothers Harry Richardson Sr. and Raymond Richardson; her Zion Baptist Church family; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Cremation Society of Virginia-Newport News assisted the family with arrangements.