Celebrating Lillian Miles Lewis

During Black History Month, we will highlight several unheralded individuals dedicated their lives to community service and racial equity. Chrysalis Lab has had the distinct honor of partnering with all of these warriors for justice.

 

Lillian Miles Lewis exhibited a keen sense of generosity and an unquenchable curiosity at a young age, which endeared her to her numerous friendships throughout her life. While a student, she traveled to Nigeria for volunteer work. Subsequently, for two years she served as a volunteer teacher in a new program that had just been implemented by then President John F. Kennedy, the Peace Corps. 

After acquiring her master’s degree in library science, Lillian moved from her home in Los Angeles to accept a position as a librarian at Atlanta University in 1965. She quickly became integral to Atlanta’s academic, political, and social milieu. At a 1967 New Year’s Eve party, Lillian was introduced to a man she greatly admired and who would soon become her husband—John Lewis. As Lillian put it, “I was attracted to him before I knew him.” 

John Lewis and Lillian Miles were married at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta in 1968. During her husband’s early years in Washington, Lillian held leadership roles in the auxiliary organization for spouses of Congressional Black Caucus members and raised money for scholarships. From 1984 to 1989, she served as Associate Director of the Institute for International Affairs and Development and from 1989 to 2003, Lillian was Director of External Affairs in the Office of Research and Sponsorsedl Programs. Lillian Miles Lewis died in 2012 at the age of 73. 

Before his passing in 2020, Congressman Lewis created the John and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation (JLMLF) to carry on the couple’s passions, including educational access, support of young people, and love of Black heritage and the arts. The couple consistently demonstrated their love of learning and unwavering devotion to teaching others. 

The JLMLF is committed to doing the righteous and important work of inspiring “goodJ troublemaking. Shortly after John Lewis’ passing in 2020, Chrysalis Lab assisted them with developing a strategic framework, strengthening their brand and establishing a strong public presence…which included co-creating a robust visual identity for the Foundation and launching a refreshed website. Bringing our talents to bear to perpetuate the legacies of John and Lilian Miles Lewis through their foundation’s work remains one of our greatest honors.