ELSIE ADAMS LEWIS

Elsie Adams Lewis, 94, passed away on October 18, 2011. She was born on August 11, 1917, in Gold Hill, AL., to the late J.G. & Alline Hoffman Adams. In 1937, Lewis moved, with her parents, to Panama City. After graduating from Alabama College (now known as the University of Montevallo) on May 30, 1938, she taught school in Alabama, and at Bay High School from 1943 to 1945. She was preceded in death by her husband, C.P. Lewis Sr. They were married in March 1945, in Baltimore, while "Pres" was stationed there with the U.S. Navy. After what she called "a 20 year maternity leave", she returned to teaching in 1965, first at Mowat Jr. High, and then Jinks Jr. High, where she also served as a guidance counselor. Upon her retirement she travelled extensively with her friends, riding elephants, camels, and even a water buffalo .She kissed the Blarney Stone, walked the Great Wall of China, and shopped in Hong Kong and Singapore. Lewis was also predeceased by her brother, J.G. (Joe) Adams, Jr. She is survived by two sons, Charles P. Lewis, Jr., and William A. (Bill) Lewis & his wife, Lucy, of Panama City: four granddaughters, Preasley Lewis of Orlando; Courtney L. Merrill & husband, Zachary, of Fayetteville, N.C. Courtney, USAFR, is presently deployed to Afghanistan; Ann Corbett Lewis; Corinne L. Patton & her husband, David, of Atlanta; and two great-grandsons, Baylor Lee Gunkle, & William Thomas Patton. Elsie had resided at Mathison Retirement Center since 2007. She had been a member and past president of the Panama City Woman's Club and a past member of Delta Kappa Gamma, an educational honorary. Elsie was also a member of First United Methodist Church & the Wesley Sunday School Class.
Visitation will be held on Friday October 21, from 1:00- 2:00 P.M., at the First United Methodist Church of Panama City with the services to follow at 2:00 P.M. in the Sanctuary. The Rev. Walter Ellisor, a former student, & the Rev. Steve Rascoe of the First United Methodist Church, will officiate. Burial will follow in Greenwood Cemetery. Asked to serve as active pallbearers are Jim Fulton, Wes Hammond, Andy McKenzie, LaVoy Anderson, and her nephews, Mike Adams, and Pat Adams. Asked to be Honorary pallbearers are M.G. Nelson, Joe Moore, the teachers & members of the Wesley Sunday School Class and the staff of Mathison Retirement Center. In lieu of flowers, the family asked that contributions be made to the Si Mathison Family Life Center at the First United Methodist Church of Panama City.
The family wishes to thank the wonderful staff at Bay Medical who attended her in her last days. The entire staff of Mathison Retirement Center was very special to her and the family is so very grateful for the love and care given to Elsie while she resided there.

Wilson Funeral Home