A Life Remembered

Memorial service for Jeanette Anfield-Lewis is Saturday

The life and legacy of Jeanette Anfield-Lewis – a lady for all times: a sister, wife, mother of children (both personal and in the community) child development caretaker, a politician and a very caring neighbor.

She had a natural love for people. She always had a concern for her fellowmen that inspired them to embrace her skills and become empowered to lead. This community cornerstone passed away on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018.

Her career started as a child who grew up in the surrounding area of Keysville. Even then, she was eager to mentor and improve the quality of life for her people. She was a member of the Mt. Tabor African Methodist Episcopal church. It was during her Christian laymanship that she was taught to train and work with others. She was also director of the YPD (Young People’s Division) at the church and worked diligently at the state level of YPD.

Not knowing how she would impact the life of others, her instincts led her to become community-oriented. An archived True Citizen article mentions her contributions to the community. “She was always actively involved in Burke County, from growing up as granddaughter of a Burke County sharecropper to being one of the first Day Care Center Directors. In 1968, Mrs Jeanete Anfield-Lewis was hired as the first Day Care Director for B & B Day Care Center-Boggs Academy Campus. She later was an entrepreneur and opened her personal day care center, which was named for the town, ‘Keysville Day Care Center.’ She served the community with a Boy and Girl Scout program in Keysville. The first Feed-AKid program was introduced and children were nurtured as a result of the nutrition program. A recreation area/ playground was designated as a safe harbor for children to run and play in a healthy environment.”

She was inspired by the community to serve as a city council woman for the town of Keysville, and she filled that position for a period of time. Her natural ability to understand the political aspects of serving people led her to run for the Burke County Board of Education. Because of her experienced leadership, many students and teachers benefitted from her presence. She was a dedicated member of numerous organizations and partnered with Keysville Concerned Citizens, CSRA Head Start program, the Glenmary Association in Nashville, Tenn., and the Senior Citizens Nutrition Program. Her serving on the committee was instrumental in the writing of the Title I Program in its early stages in Washington D.C.

The reflections that were mentioned seem to hold steadfast to her memory. Some notable quotes are “I spent my time in her home because of the love”; “she was kind to children”; “she was soft spoken yet firm”; “she was comical, friendly, loving and encouraging.” She showed children how to love each other and set goals for life.
The memorial service will be held Saturday, Oct. 20, at the Waynesboro Deliverance Evangelistic Church at 11 a.m​