Mary Anne Lewis

Mary Anne Porter Lewis, of Winston Salem, entered peacefully into heaven on March 25, 2010. She was born February 20, 1932 in Texarkana, AR. Mary Anne is preceded in death by her parents, Homer Clester and Mamie Lou O'Neill Johnson and her husband of 41 years, James Thomas Porter. Mary Anne is survived by her husband, Gary Lewis and beloved pet Honey Bun; son James Porter and wife Julia of Kingwood, TX; son David Porter and wife Sherry of Gastonia; son Mike Porter of Cape Coral, FL; grandchildren Dara Robinson, Brandon Porter, Travis Porter, Bailey Porter, Matthew Porter; great-grandchildren, Ashlyn Sawyer, Porter Robinson; Sisters-in-law Elaine Porter and Margaret Porter of Malakoff, TX and step-sister Peggy Elie of Houston, TX; stepdaughter Sherry Strayhorn and husband Roy of Durham, stepson Terry Lewis and wife Pamela of Spring Branch, TX; J.R. and Gina Childress and John and Stephanie Spencer, step grandchildren Tyler Strayhorn, his wife Hannah, Shannon Strayhorn, Peter Lewis, his wife Christy, Caleb Lewis, Bryson and Brittany Childress, Austin, Lauren and Erin Spencer. Mary Anne graduated from Milby High School in Houston, TX. She worked in accounting for Herrin Transportation in Houston, TX, and in 1969 transferred to Winston-Salem, NC, as part of McLean Trucking. She was a past President and Secretary of the Winston-Salem Women's Traffic Club. In Texas, Mary Anne, with Jim, began a lifelong love of camping, boating and square dancing and continued them after the move to Winston-Salem. She collected sand from the beaches and lakes visited on her many boating excursions. Gary and Mary Anne have continued the camping and boating tradition, being members of the Winston-Salem Power Squadron. They have made numerous excursions up and down the east coast enjoying the wildlife and making many friends along the way. Mary Anne operated a small ceramics shop, Mariposa Ceramics, from the early 1980s until 1992, teaching classes, attending craft fairs and making many pieces that her children cherish today. She had a love of genealogy and did in-depth research of her family history and rarely missed the annual Johnson family reunion in Texas. There was never a job or task too tough for Mary Anne to tackle, be it cooking over a campfire, striking a tent in the rain, changing a flat tire, re-upholstering an old couch, stretching the family budget in the early days, sewing or her favorite past time of all; finding new uses for old panty hose. Above all, Mary Anne possessed a genuine interest in all people and in all things around her. She was loved and will be missed by all. The family wishes to thank special friend Shirley Kennedy for the wonderful care and support she has given to Mary Anne and Gary over the last year, especially during the last months. The family also wishes to express their appreciation to Mary Anne's healthcare providers, Drs. Heather Shearer, Robin Boyd-Kranis, and Hope Beacham, and Nurses Karen Fuller and Renee Eubanks for their outstanding care. A funeral mass will be held 11:00 am, Monday, March 29, 2010 at St. Leo the Great Catholic Church, in Winston-Salem, NC, with the Rev. Alex Ayala officiating. The family will receive friends following the service. Burial will be at a later date at Woodlawn Cemetery in Texarkana, TX. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice and Palliative Care Center, 101 Hospice Lane, Winston-Salem, NC 27103, or St. Leo the Great Catholic Church, 335 Springdale Ave, Winston-Salem, NC 27104. Online condolences may be made at www.hayworth-miller.com.

Visitation:
12:00pm - 01:00pm on March 29, 2010 at St. James United Methodist Church

Service:
Service at 11:00am on March 29, 2010 at St. Leo The Great Catholic Church