Evangeline Rose Lewis

Evangeline “Rose” Biggers Lewis, eldest daughter and second of five children, was born on April 6, 1925 in Salisbury, North Carolina to the late James Biggers and Mary Perkins Biggers. God called to Rose on October 1, 2002 to join Him in fellowship with her relatives and friends that He had called Home before her. Rose in her ever-caring way, lived her life with one philosophy, “If I can help somebody, then my living hasn’t been in vain. As a child, she attended the prestigious Mary Potter Academy in Oxford, North Carolina and late graduated in 1943 from Price High School in her hometown of Salisbury, North Carolina. In 1946, she received her Nursing degree from L. Richardson Memorial Hospital/Bennett College located in Greensboro, North Carolina. It was here that two of her most cherished lifelong bonds were formed…first came her initiation into her beloved Chi Eta Phi Sorority; and then the love of a lifetime with her soon to be husband, Spencer Hudson Lewis. Shortly after graduation, she and Spencer joined in Holy Matrimony on August 1, 1946. After marriage, they settled in Spencer’s hometown of Baltimore, Maryland and enjoyed forty-eight wondrous years together until his death on April 24, 1995. On child, daughter Marilyn DeMoll blessed this union. Rose’s lengthy and varied career as a registered nurse began in 1947. During the early years, she worked as a Public Health Nurse within the Baltimore City Health Department and played an integral part in the city’s Polio Vaccination Program in the early 1950’s. In the late 1960’s, she began working for Baltimore’s University of Maryland Hospital System wherein she stayed for approximately ten years until her return to the Baltimore City Health Department. Finally, in the early 1980’s, Rose found her true vocation as a nurse within the Baltimore City Public School System. She often reflected how much she enjoyed working with the diverse student populations and staff, and continued to do so until her retirement in June 1991. Following retirement, Rose’s commitment to people and those things she loved and believed in kept her busy non-stop. She continued her pledge as an active member of the Gamma Chapter of the Chi Eta Phi Sorority; endeared herself to all in her Fairmont Park neighborhood community and her hometown Salisbury Rowan Club. More importantly, she was a faithful member of St. Edward’s Roman Catholic Church for well over fifty years. She actively participated in a multitude of community activities with her sister members in the Ladies Auxiliary of the Knights of St. Peter Claver. In addition, she helped to co-found and coordinate several health fairs and screenings sponsored by St. Edwards; all of which benefited both church members and community-at-large. Evangeline “Rose” Biggers Lewis leaves to mourn” a daughter, Marilyn D. Lewis-Taylor; son-in-law, Michael Taylor; and of course “The Boys.” She also leaves a brother, Louis Biggers of Salisbury, North Carolina; a sister, Rev. Louise Holley of Baltimore, Maryland; several cousins, nieces, nephews, great and grand-nieces and nephews; and a host of other relatives and friends. Rose has touched many fortunate people…but while her loss is mourned, her memory will always be cherished. She will now join her beloved “Spencer” and know everlasting peace and joy. The pain is lessened with the knowledge that the next time we see her in that beautiful undiscovered country, who’s borne no traveler ever returns, we will never have to say Good-bye again.

Tributes

Evangeline Rose Lewis

April 16, 1925 - October 1, 2002