Mrs. Joanne Maxine Lewis

LEWIS, Mrs. Joanne Maxine - Age 83, passed away Tuesday, April 9, 2019 at McLaren-Flint. Family hour 10:00 AM, Thursday, April 18, 2019 at Family Worship Center Church International, G-3280 N. Linden Rd., with funeral service commencing at 11:00 AM Pastors Timothy C., and Tonya Stokes, Host Pastor, Pastor James Hodo, officiating. Interment Sunset Hills Cemetery, G-4413 Flushing Rd. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at church 10:00 AM Thursday. Mrs. Lewis will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., and will be viewed from 12:00 PM-8:00 PM Wednesday, with family present to receive friends from 6:00 PM-8:00 PM. Joanne Maxine Montgomery Lewis was born to the late Reverend Matthew and Sue Montgomery on May 9, 1935 in Flint, MI. She was the youngest of three children. She spent all of her life in Flint. Joanne attended Mt. Calvary Baptist church where her father was the Reverend and she sang in the choir. She graduated from Flint Northern in 1953 and from there went on to attend Michigan State University where she obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Music and Education. Joanne met and married Warren Anderson and to this union, their only child, Brett Matthew Anderson was born. She dedicated her life to serving the Lord. Joanne was an elementary school teacher throughout the Flint Community School system and ended her career as a 5th grade teacher at Sobey Elementary school after teaching for 42 years. She was widely known for her very strict disciplinary teaching style but students adored her. Joanne cultivated the lives of children in many ways. One way was by taking them on visits to Frankenmuth and exposing them to many different cultural events in and outside of Flint. Joanne sang opera for most of her early life. She was one of the first and only black opera singers in Flint and traveled the country to perform in multiple venues. Joanne retired from teaching in 1999. She was a member of several organizations including: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (Delta Zeta chapter @MSU), Victorious Christian Women, Trees of Righteousness, and the Little Miracles Red Hatters. Joanne was also a dedicated member of Family Worship Center Church International where she had previously served as a member of the choir. Joanne had a tremendous giver spirit. She had a kind and loving heart. Joanne poured into the lives of many and was a profound advocate of higher education. Joanne was preceded in death by her parents, Matthew & Sue Montgomery; brother, Jack Johnson; and sister, Marion Lincoln. Joanne Maxine Montgomery Lewis leaves to cherish her memory: adoring son, Brett (LaTonda) Anderson; daughters, Linda (Wally) Clay, all of Grand Blanc, MI, Sylvia (Bruce) Lewis of Flint, MI and Constance Coleman of Louisiana, and sons - Russell (Evatt) Harris & children of Flint, MI, Kerry Harris of Louisiana; loving grandchildren, Ariel & Brett II, Janet & Wally II; great-granddaughter, Tatiyana; special nieces, Rowena (Damiann) Hopkins-Ford of Baltimore, MD and Nora Renee Perez of Columbus, OH; special cousins, Violet Warner-Eldridge of Flint, MI, Latrelle (Sophia) Eldridge of Grand Blanc, MI, Portia (Donnie) Odom of Burton, MI, Jamille (Timothy) Richardson of Covington, GA; a host of relatives and special friends.

Mrs. Joanne Maxine Lewis

May 9, 1935 - April 9, 2019