My Fondest Memory of Fannie Lewis

I arrived in Cleveland in January, 1988.
One of the first people to contact me and welcome me to Cleveland was City Councilwoman, Fannie Lewis.

I'll never forget how polite, but direct she was over the phone. She said: "Welcome young lady, do you know about my area, the "Hough neighborhood." I replied, "Yes, I know there were riots and fires there. "Yeah, but there's a lot more to Hough today, " she said, " and I'm gonna show you. I want you to meet me on Saturday and I'm gonna give you a tour of Hough". I remember saying "Okay, all the while thinking, its really cold for an outside tour right now.

But there was Ms. Lewis, waiting for me at our scheduled location, eager for me to see the area she represented. The sun was shinning and the weather actually wasn't too bad that day. I just remember how fast she was walking and how passionate she was about trying to make the area a better place.

I will remember her as a woman who "walked the walk...and talked the talk." What you saw was the real deal... a true fighter for the causes she believed in.

She will truly be missed.