Celestine Marjorie Lewis was born April 14, 1932, to Rochester Sims and Louise Harris in Cleveland, Ohio and raised by her maternal grandmother, Hattie Mae Stacey. She was educated in the Cleveland Public School District and graduated from John Hay High School in 1951. After high school she worked for a local furniture company as a clerk typist. Through her brother, Charles, she later met Norman Eugene Lewis of Omaha, Nebraska, in 1956, who was serving in the U.S. Army. They were married the following year at Canaan Missionary Baptist Church and thereafter traveled all over Europe – visiting places such as England, Italy, Paris, and Spain. They were married sixty-five years and blessed with their only daughter, Yvonne, who is their pride and joy. In 2004 their world was complete with the arrival of their only precious granddaughter, Zia Lynn Wilson.
Celestine worked for the Lake Erie Girl Scout Council, holding various clerical positions, and retired in 1994 after giving over twenty years of service. Celestine accepted Christ as her personal savior at a young age. In 1969, she joined Mt. Sinai Baptist Church where she became a member of the Mt. Sinai Chorus. Later, she served as President of the Chorus until the group disbursed in 1992 due to the formation of the Mt. Sinai Mass Choir. Celestine also served as a member of the Finance Committee for a few years.
One of Celestine’s favorite activities was playing bingo at Trinity High School, where she networked and developed special relationships with several people.
Overall, Celestine was sweet, lovable, and memorable by her gracious smile. She will be missed by all who loved her.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Rochester Sims, and Louise Harris; stepfather, J.D. Howard; grandma, Hattie Mae Stacey; aunt, Emma Freeman; uncle, Henry Freeman; son-in-law, Steve Terrell Wilson; sister, Barbara Jean Hubbard; brother, Charles Thomas Jr.; and brothers-in-law, Jim Hubbard, and Lonnie Marks.
Celestine Marjorie Lewis leaves to morn her beloved husband, Norman E. Lewis; her loving daughter, Yvonne Alice Louise Lewis-Wilson; her precious granddaughter, Zia Lynn Wilson; sister-in-law, Barbara Ann Marks of Omaha Nebraska; and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.