Hermie Elizabeth Newsum Lewis, 92, died Sunday, Jan. 20, 2008, surrounded by her family at home in Fairhope.
She was born Aug. 8, 1915 in Cairo, Miss. After marrying the love of her life, Joseph Virgil Lewis, she made her home in Meridian, Miss., until he retired form the Southern-Am-Track Railroad and moved to Hickory, Miss. She and her granddaughter later made their home in Fairhope after his death.
She was a homemaker and everyone’s Mama and Mamaw.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert Galloway Newsum and Thresa Mattie Lou Gates Newsum of Cairo, Miss., two brothers, Travis Houston Newsum of Tulsa, Okla., and Herbert Samuel Keith Newsum of Ecru, Miss., a son, Michael Virgil Lewis; granddaughter, Cammie Lynea Lewis; and her husband, Joseph Virgil Lewis.
Survivors include two daughters, Elizabeth Louise Lewis (Richard) Caudill of Fairhope, and Melba Jo Young of Meridian, Miss.; son, Darryl Craig “Buddy” Lewis of Meridian, Miss.; a devoted granddaughter and caretaker, Kerry Doreen Caudill Robinson, and her companion dog, Honey; 11 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, 10 great-great-grandchildren; three sisters, Vanela Lane (Melvin) Dowdy, Eva Mae (Bill) Bailey of Cairo, Miss., and Dola Henrietta Norie of Tupelo, Miss.; two brothers, Robert Gates Newsum of Cairo, Miss., and William Cody Newsum of New Albany, Miss.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 23 at Barham Funeral Home, Meridian, Miss. Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 24 at Chunky Cemetery in Chunky, Miss.
Arrangements are by Wolfe-Bayview Funeral Homes & Crematory Inc., Fairhope and Barham Funeral Home, Meridian, Miss.
