The most fabulous Jennie Lewis
J.Lew radiating awesomeness
I lost an amazing friend this year to Breast Cancer. Jennie Lewis was a camp counselor with me at Rockbrook Camp in Brevard, NC. One day I will write a post trying to articulate how important camp was to my girlhood but for now I want to focus on Jennie.
Jennie was pure happiness. She was the funniest, kindest, and most creative person I have ever met. You know the saying "The World Belongs to the Enthusiastic?" That is Jennie and the world belonged to her.
I love you J.Lew!
LEWIS Jennifer Helen Lewis, 34, died peacefully at her parents' New Orleans home, on June 24, 2012, surrounded by her loving family, after a courageous three and a half year struggle with cancer. Jennie was born in New Orleans on October 28, 1977. She had made her home in Atlanta since 2008. Jennie attended Isidore Newman School in New Orleans where, amongst other honors and accomplishments, she was a two sport captain and recipient of the Newman Players' Award and the Anvilla Prescott Schultz Citizenship Key.
She spent her childhood summers at Rockbrook Camp for Girls in Brevard, NC, and returned many summers as a counselor. Jennie received her Bachelor of Arts from Louisiana State University, where she was a member of Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for Women. In her senior year she received several chapter service awards, including the Pi Phi Outstanding Senior Award. Jennie received a Master's degree in Non-Profit Management from LSU Shreveport, and worked with The Extra Mile in Shreveport before moving to Washington, D.C. in the summer of 2001. There she worked for international non-profits, InterAction and Counterpart International. In 2008 Jennie joined the Carter Center in Atlanta. As a Senior Associate Director, she focused particularly on democracy and peace building efforts in Central Asia, the Middle East and North Africa. She traveled with President Jimmy Carter in Sudan to monitor elections in 2010 and also South Sudan's vote for independence in 2011. Her career of service took her from Afghanistan to Sudan and many places in between.
Jennie is survived by her parents, Jim and Marguerite Lewis; her sister and brother-in-law, Chrissy and Andrew Irvine; her brother and sister-in-law, James and Wendy Lewis; her three beloved nephews, William and Jamie Irvine and Jett Lewis; her grandmother, Frances Jean Crow Fine; a wonderful extended family of aunts, uncles, and cousins; and countless friends. Jennie made others happier wherever she found them.
She inspired all who knew her with her zest for life, wicked sense of humor, limitless love, and impromptu song and dance numbers. A devoted New Orleanian, Jennie had always hoped to return to serve the City that Care Forgot. We are grateful she could come home to be set free.
A mass celebrating Jennie's life will be held at Holy Name of Jesus Church on July 13. Visitation will begin at noon, followed by the liturgy at 1:00 p.m. Those wishing to honor Jennie's extraordinary life may make a donation to The Carter Center's Jennie Lewis Internship Fund. Donations will support a recurring internship program for talented young women seeking a career in international non-profit work to spend a semester in the Democracy, Human Rights, Conflict Resolution, Americas or China Programs, including travel to countries where The Carter Center works to alleviate human suffering. To make a donation online, please visit the following Carter Center link: https://secure3.convio.net/carter/site/Donation2?1560.donation=form1&df_id=1560. Under the section "Tribute Gift Information" please designate the gift to be in memory of Jennie Lewis and in the tab for "card occasion", specify the "Jennie Lewis Internship Fund". Those wishing to make a donation via check can include "Jennie Lewis Internship Fund" on the memo line and send to the Attention of Larry Frankel, The Carter Center, 453 Freedom Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30307.
Race for the Cure Friends:
You go girls!
xoxo
Breast cancer is such a cruel, cruel disease. I believe Katie Stevenson will be walking in honor of Neil Maddux Miller (and perhaps others), who I was privileged to know. I think of Neil often and will always remember her beautiful spirit and smile.
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