ELEANOR WATSON LEWIS

Eleanor Watson Lewis, 96, of Panama City, Florida passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 17, 2011. Eleanor was one of three daughters born to Dr. James Crawford and Edna Watson of Georgiana, Alabama. She graduated from Alabama College for Women (now University of Montevallo), taught four years in Birmingham, and married Henry Mack Lewis (deceased) of Panama City, in 1941. She has resided in Panama City over 70 years. She is survived by one daughter, Nancy Lewis Moore and husband Joe, her sister Jean Watson Lewis of Panama City, nieces Carol Jean Lewis Wheeler (Alpharetta, Georgia), Mimi Sapp Bozarth (Panama City), nephews James C. Lewis (Wendy) of Atlanta; and Albert M. Lewis III (Marilyn) and Herbert P. Sapp, Jr. of Panama City as well as numerous cousins and great nieces and nephews.
She dedicated her life to caring for her family and her community. She has also contributed to the progress and served on the board of many other community organizations throughout her residency in Panama City. She was active in her church, First United Methodist, where she taught Sunday School and was active in other endeavors (Methodist Women, board of directors, etc.) for over 45 years. The Girl Scouts of America named their Panama City camp "Camp Eleanor" as she was a founding member of the Girl Scout Council of the Florida Panhandle and involved with the Girl Scouts in so many other ways. She was a charter member of the Panama City Music Association which started as the First Friday Club in 1941. She served the PCMA several terms as president, was honored for over 50 years of service and privileged with the provision of one of the three reserved parking places for the performances. She was a Charter member of the Jr. Women's Club and served as chairman of the Arts Department, Public Affairs Department, and was Program Chair of the Red Stocking Review of the Women's Club of Panama City. She served the GFWC Woman's Club of Panama City as both Vice President and President for several terms and was District Director as well as State Chairman. She was one of the longest surviving members of the Woman's Club. In 1988 she and her husband were honored by the Jr. Museum with the "Eleanor and Mack Thanks Award" after being instrumental in the organization of the Jr. Museum and dedicating many years to its progress, organizing and serving on the board, helping to build exhibits, and organizing and serving on the Museum Guild. She and her husband Mack were also instrumental in obtaining funding for the first permanent building of the Bay County Guidance Clinic (Life Management Center). She was also involved with many other community organizations. The Martin Theatre owes much of its progress to the efforts of Eleanor and her husband Mack who worked in concert with so many other volunteers to see to its salvation and development.
She was known for her script writing and performing abilities which she utilized to memorialize special occasions such as the Bicentennial Celebration of the General Federation of Women's Clubs, Christmas and Easter at First Methodist Church as well as many others. She was sought for book reviews and recitations and was said to have stolen the show in the performance of the Red Stocking Review with her recitation of "Nobody Makes a Pass at Me".
A few of the many honors she received were being named the first female non-member to receive the Paul Harris Fellow Award from the Rotary Club, the Special Achievement Award from the Bay Arts Alliance, being named as one of the 100 Women Who Made a Difference by the Florida Federation of Women's Clubs, Good Government Award (Jaycees), First Lady of the Year (Beta Sigma Phi International), as well as the Diamond Award from the Girl Scouts among many others. She will be missed by her family and many members of the community. Funeral services will be held on Monday at 11 a.m. in the First United Methodist Church. The family will receive friends at the church from 10-11 a.m. Monday prior to the service. Interment will follow in the Greenwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the First United Methodist Church Family Life Center or any other organization that Eleanor was involved in.

Wilson Funeral Home