Geraldine Frances Lewis

Geraldine Frances Chaney (Jeri) was the firstborn child in the marriage of Francis (Frank) Crampton Chaney and Ivory Joe (Campbell) Chaney in Los Angeles, California. She was a precious child and developed a happy and positive attitude toward life and its many challenges.

In 1945 the family moved from Santa Monica to the Northern California Community of Alameda. It is in this environment that she and her younger sister Norma began their schooling. She took positively to her schooling experience and immediately began to display her academic and artistic acuteness. She was an "A" student, who played the piano, and drew beautifully.

Our mother was drawn to the service of the Lord in Oakland, California, at Beth Eden Missionary Baptist Church. She was baptized at an early age and continued a heartfelt devotion to her Savior throughout her life, as demonstrated through her beliefs, work ethic, and deeds. She was a faithful member of Bethany Baptist Church of West Los Angeles for 40 plus years. She saw that her family and friends knew the :Good News of Jesus Christ".

Her family eventually returned to Southern California, and her junior and senior high school years were spent in Santa Monica school district. In 1957 she married Marion (Sonny) Lewis. To this marriage, four children were born, Marian Renee, Robert Victor, Stacy Denelle, and Jeremy Willis Lewis.

While working and raising her family she continued to further her education. She attended and graduated from Los Angeles Trade Tech College, where she earned a AA degree in Business Administration. She loved animals, especially dogs, and was a true nature lover; and we cannot forget that she was an advocate for others and always willing to help those in need.

In 1974 she began working as Administrative Secretary, and was later promoted to Executive Administrative Assistant for the South Central Los Angeles Regional Center (SCLARC). While employed full time at (SCLARC), she completed her college education, graduating with a Bachelor's degree from Biola Christian University. She also received an Associates Degree in Evangelism from BCBC through Bethany Baptist Church of West Los Angeles. In 2003, our mom retired from (SCLARC) in the Human Resource Department.

Our mother showed love to all who knew her. She devoted her life to God and her family. As a family we have many memories of good times, and good food. Our mother found special meaning and delight in attending the birth of all her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, she was known in the family as the "Baby Whisperer". In her post retirement years, she traveled internationally (Paris was her European favorite). Her delight was teaching in the Children's Church and Sunday School at Bethany Baptist Church of West Los Angeles. She enjoyed putting on the Annual Easter and Christmas programs where she wrote, directed and designed the costumes.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Sonny, of 57 years. Her parents Frank and Ivory, and stepfather Bill Harness. Her sister Nicole (Chaney) Nutt and Grandsons David and Derrick Burton.