Archie Bethea Lewis,was born on October 21, 1930 in Sarasota, Florida to Archie and Flora Bethea. Archie was named for her father. When her three-year-old brother Lloyd learned about her name, he rejected it; saying, “the name did not fit a girl with curly hair, let’s call her “Precious”. From that day on, Precious was the family name for the new baby. The oldest, Vilettie, was nine years old and did not care what the ‘brat’ was called; she just wanted a little sister.

Archie’s formative years were spent in Sarasota, until she went to Fessenden Academy and later to Edward Waters College in Jacksonville, Florida. Archie’s senior year was interrupted to give birth to a son, her pride and joy, Lincoln Bruce Pasteur. Several years later, she joined in holy matrimony and lived as Mrs. William Lewis for a brief period. Following the birth of her son she stayed home for four years before returning to Edward Waters College, where she completed her senior year of high school and two years of junior college; graduating as the valedictorian of her class. Archie continued, completing her junior and senior years of college at Allen University, graduating Cum Laude. The following year, she entered the School of Social Work at Atlanta University; graduating with a Master’s Degree of Distinction, concentrating on Community Organization and Administration.

Archie landed her first professional position working with girl gangs for the YMCA and Youth Board in Buffalo, New York. From there, she relocated to Cleveland, Ohio where she was the director of League Park Center, a neighborhood settlement house. Some of her happiest days in Cleveland were spent while teaching Sunday school and singing in the Senior Choir at St. James AME Church. It was during this period that she became active in politics.

While Director of League Park Center, Archie’s political involvement began as a volunteer, helping design a strategy for her choice candidate, Louis Stokes, who was the first black person to run for Congress in the 12th district of Ohio, eventually becoming the first to win the position. There were more than one dozen men and one woman running at the time. The position had to be carefully planned in the interest of a community that ranged broadly. The seat was an unusual one. The liberal, Charles Vanick, made his wishes clear. His district could easily support a minority, but it was the community’s job to select and support the best person. That person was Louis Stokes. Other plans were also in the works to win not only the 12th district seat but City Hall as well.

During her group volunteer work, Archie helped voters in the Hough, Cleveland community with guidance, information and access to resources. From that work, political-minded social clubs and district community wards were inspired to do the same and answer the call to action. It was time for black council members to come forth; i.e. councilpersons Carrie Cain, Fannie Lewis, and later Dave Collier. State Senator Morris Jackson of the 21st district of Ohio was reluctant, but ultimately was drafted. The staff at League Park Center wrote his speeches and coached him every step of the way. Even Reverend Jesse Jackson came in from Chicago to ignite constituents. Archie and fellow volunteers borrowed a flatbed truck, hired a percussionist with a loud speaker, and Rev. Jackson and company went to work waking people up as early as five in the morning; instructing them to be at the polls when they opened at seven. Never in Cleveland’s history had there been such a large turnout before noon. From this effort, Louis Stokes won the 12th District in 1968, while arguing one of the nation’s first ‘stop and frisk’ cases before the U.S. Supreme Court (Terry v. Ohio). Louis Stokes was also one of the founding members of the Congressional Black Caucus of the United States Congress. One year prior, his brother Carl Stokes, became the first black mayor of a major city in Cleveland.

After serving as Director of League Park Center for ten years, Archie was drafted to take a position in Columbus, Ohio as the Coordinator of Minority Affairs in the Office of Governor, John J. Gillian. When he was defeated in his bid for a second term, she accepted a position as Coordinator of the State of Ohio Sickle Cell Anemia Program, where she worked for the next ten years and retired in 1995. Early in Archie’s move to Columbus, she joined the congregation at St. Paul AME Church, where she worked tirelessly until she moved to Florida.

Through her vocation, civic and political involvement, Archie Lewis dedicated her life to helping those most in need,  the marginalized, the powerless and abandoned. Her work was both social and political, with an unflinching eye toward equal rights for African Americans, the impoverished and improving the community at large. Archie Lewis was honored by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority for Outstanding Community Service; and likewise by the State of Ohio Senate, General Assembly as Senior Citizen of the Decade for dynamic leadership in Greater Columbus.

Archie leaves to mourn: her longtime companion, Ronald Williams; her son, Lincoln Pasteur; daughter-in-law, Tara Morgan-Johnson; grandson, Tor Alfred Pasteur; nieces and nephews: Lloyd Bethea, Harold (Hal) Dorsey, Jr., Flora Elayne Dorsey, Karen (Pinni) Dorsey, Jerome (Jerry) Dorsey, Kevin Dorsey, Kim Dorsey, Carrie and James Washington, Nelson and Anika (Nikki) Preston, and a host of cousins, grand nieces and nephews.

Memorial Service to be held on Saturday, February 5, 2022 from 11:00 AM until 1:00 PM at Boyd-Panciera Family Funeral Care, 1600 N. University Drive, Pembroke Pines, Florida 33024.

Please click the link below to join the webinar:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89076792722?pwd=eE50eXdyY2FNV1hTWVFsQktEc0FSdz09

Passcode: 050291

Webinar ID: 890 7679 2722

For those unable to attend, the family is offering LIVE streaming of the service on Saturday, February 5, 2022 at 11:00 AM.  The link to attend LIVE is on the Boyd-Panciera Family Funeral Care Facebook page at: Hover & Click to the Right of the Arrow —> BOYD-PANCIERA FAMILY FUNERAL CARE FACEBOOK