M Edith Booker-Lewis

Mrs. Medith Booker Lewis, (formerly Mary Edith Booker) 98, of Chesapeake, departed this life on Friday, December 29, 2023. Born in Norfolk, Virginia on October 6, 1925, to William Andrew Booker and Martha Shaw Booker. She was baptized at the Church of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Norfolk, VA on the 7th of January 1934 according to the Rite of Roman Catholic Church. She lived her early years in the Norfolk, Virginia area and graduated from St. Joseph’s High School on June 13, 1943. She was the oldest of three daughters, Mrs. Martha Eleanor Booker Simpson (Paul Sr.) and Mrs. Marian Willette Booker Lee (William S.), who preceded her in death. As the oldest sibling, she was responsible for protecting her siblings from racial attacks back and forth from school. She graduated with honors from the prestigious Hampton Training School For Nurses and Dixie Hospital on April 4, 1952. Two months later on June 13, 1952, she fulfilled the registered nurse requirements as established by the Nurses Examining Board for the State of Virginia before serving in the Korean War. She was appointed as a Reserve Commissioned Officer in the Officer’s Reserved Corps in 1952 after completing The Medical Field Service School, Fort Sam Houston also in 1952. Professionally she worked as a civilian employee of the United States Naval Hospital, in Portsmouth, VA, retiring in 1984 after over 30 years of faithful service to the Nation and the United States Navy. Because of her commitment to excellence, she was proudly promoted to nursing managerial positions in Korea and stateside in Kentucky and Virginia; these were esteemed leadership positions for African-American women then. She was married to the late U.S. Army First Class Staff Sergeant Cleveland Lewis, of New Orleans, from February 6, 1953, until his death on October 25, 1993. Throughout her life she was a devout Catholic, enjoying reading the bible and catholic literature and Praising God. Mrs. Booker-Lewis also enjoyed singing as she sang soprano in the Hampton Institute Glee Club and with church choirs. In retirement, she also volunteered with the Hampton University Nurses’ Alumni Group and she and her husband enjoyed landscaping and gardening, winning awards for the beauty of their Chesapeake yard. Along with being a collector of dolls and home goods, Edith loved fashion, shopping, cooking and genealogy. Edith will be remembered for her quick tongue and passion for her family. She is survived by her niece, Ms. Stephanie Mwangaza Brown, Washington, D.C., and nephew, Mr. Paul D. Simpson Jr., East Point, GA; 4 great nieces, and 2 great, great nieces and 3 great-great nephews.

M Edith Booker-Lewis

October 6, 1925 - December 29, 2023