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Hattie A. Lewis
Recognized as a Living Legend of Port Norris on April 5, 2025

November 25, 1933 - June 18, 2025

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Hattie Allen Lewis, 91, of Millville, NJ, entered greater life on Wednesday, June 18, 2025. She died peacefully in her sleep at Baker Place Assisted Living in Vineland, NJ, which she called home for the last year. An energetic, high-spirited force of nature until the end, she was born November 25, 1933, in Camden, SC, to Walter Allen, Sr., and the Rev. T.D. Allen (Patterson). She was one of eleven siblings, three of whom are still living (Ed, Jimmy, and Evabelle Allen).

Hattie was an active member of Sander Creek Baptist Church in Camden, SC, from a young age. She graduated from a private high school, Mather Academy, in Camden, SC, in 1951. She earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education in 1955 from Morris College where she met the love of her life, Carl Hugh Lewis of Millville, NJ. They married in 1959 and were lifelong travel companions and friends until he preceded her in death in 1994.

Hattie was a lifelong, 24-hour-a-day educator, both in and out of the classroom. She taught briefly at the St. Matthew Elementary School in Camden, SC, prior to moving to Millville. She taught third and fourth grades in the Commercial Township School System for almost forty years. She taught alongside her beloved sister-in-law, the late Jeanne E. Lewis. They started together at the two-room, segregated Brown Elementary School in Shell Pile (Bivalve, Port Norris), NJ, then later at the Haleyville-Mauricetown School.

Hattie achieved numerous professional awards during her career, including Outstanding Elementary Education Teacher. In April 2025, she was honored as a living legend by the Port Norris Historical Society, where she was celebrated by generations of students she taught over her career, many of them thanking her for inspiring them to become teachers themselves.

Hattie loved her family deeply and enjoyed celebrating every milestone and accomplishment. She enjoyed traveling and would not hesitate to go for a ‘drive’ and end up many states away. It seemed that she was attending luncheons on a daily basis with various organizations or groups of friends, enjoying many meals together.

In addition to her love of travel and devotion to her large extended family, Hattie was active as a member of numerous community organizations including the Rural Development Corporation, the Millville YMCA, the NJEA, Cumberland County Retired Educators, and the Millville Women’s Club. She adored dinning and traveling with her friends in the Regal Radiant Red Hatters Society. She was inducted into the Cumberland County Black Hall of Fame in 1994. Hattie was also the first African American appointed to the Millville Board of Education and secured subsequent terms by easily winning election.

Hattie was the organizer of the Cumberland-Salem Chapter of Jack and jill of America, Inc., where she introduced the Southern, high-society custom of throwing lavish cotillions, where young ladies were presented to society by well-groomed escorts after weeks of preparation.

A long-time member of Bethel A.M.E. Church, Millville, founded by her husband’s ancestors as Corse Chapel in 1864, she served as President of the Dorcas Women’s Missionary Society and the Young People’s Division, Director of Christian Education, the Steward and Stewardess Boards, the Finance Committee, Senior Choir member, and with the Food Outreach Ministry. In addition, she taught Sunday School for over forty years.

Until the end, Hattie was charming and friendly, making new friends, easily, including her brief stay at Baker Place in Vineland, NJ. She loved her new home and cherished her newfound relationships with the staff and fellow residents.

In addition to her siblings, Hattie lives in the memory of her sons, Carl LaMonde (Jon Carl) and Duane Alexander, their spouses, respectively Stephen A. Slusher and Angela Santandrea, two granddaughters, McKaylee Rossetti and Luciana Lewis; one grandson, Lorenzo Lewis; one great-grandson, Kaycen Rossetti; many unofficial adopted children and grandchildren; and over 150 nieces and nephews across four generations. She delighted in her warm embrace by the extended family of Angelo and Lorraine Santandrea.

A colorful celebration of Hattie’s life will take place on Wednesday, June 25, at Bethel A.M.E. Church, 113 South 5th Street, Millville, NJ, on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, where relatives and friends can be received at 10:00 a.m. followed by a service to begin at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, followed by a repast at the Trinity First Hope Center, 100 South 2nd St, Millville, NJ, 08332. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions in memory of Hattie A. Lewis to the Trinity First Hope Center or Bethel A.M.E. Church.

To e-mail condolences or tributes, please visit www.pancoastfuneralhome.com.