THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 13, 1995 TAG: 9508100043
SECTION: REAL LIFE PAGE: K8 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: THUMBS UP
LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines
WITH A VOICE like Anita Baker's, Eunice L. Lewis might have taken a different career path. But Lewis, who was born and raised in Norfolk, instead has devoted most of her life to quietly helping others.
Lewis is employed by Jewish Family Services as a certified nursing assistant. She helps the elderly to recuperate in their homes instead of in the hospital.
She cooks for them. She cleans for them. She helps them get dressed. And she often sings to them - ballads and religious spirituals.
Recently, when she was making the bed for an elderly patient while singing, Lewis said his wife commented, `You come and cook and clean and you can sing, too.' ''
Before taking the position with Jewish Family Services, Lewis worked with the mentally handicapped at Southeastern Virginia Training for the Mentally Retarded. She also has worked as a microfilm technician at Sentara Leigh Hospital after serving there as a volunteer.
Lewis shares in the belief that her patients heal faster being around their own homes and families. And being sung to.
Employed by Jewish Family Services in Norfolk since November of 1994, Lewis sees patients in Norfolk, Virginia Beach and Chesapeake.
Some of her patients are short term, such as those with broken bones. But she will see others, such as Alzheimer's patients, for many months, maybe even for the rest of their lives.
Lewis first used singing as part of her work when she was employed with Southeastern Virginia Training. There was one student there who was particularly hard to get along with, Lewis said.
``But when I sang to her she was fine,'' she said. ``So I sang to her every day.''
Lewis, who is one of 11 children, has been singing since she was a child. As a 7-year-old, she sang in the church choir, then in the chorus in junior high and high school.
She started singing at Shiloh Baptist Church in Norfolk but now is a member of New Galilee Church in Chesapeake. Surprisingly, she's not a member of the choir now.
``I don't have enough time,'' she said. ``I'm working every other weekend, and when they're rehearsing, I'm working.''
Lewis, 39, and her husband, Samuel, and three children live in Chesapeake. Their children are: Shanta, 21, who has a 2-year-old son, Derrick; Eric, 20, who is in the Job Corps in Pittsburgh, and 11-year-old Samantha.
In August, she and Samuel will celebrate their 22nd anniversary.
Although she doesn't aspire to be a professional singer, she said she likes to sing at weddings, funerals and bar mitzvahs.
Last month, she sang at the volunteer dinner at the Jewish Community Center.
``They said, we can't pay you, but we can feed you,'' Lewis said.
Although she has been singing a cappella, she hopes to get a keyboard so that she can accompany herself. Her favorite types of songs are gospel and ballads.
Although her favorite singers are Regina Bell, Toni Braxton and Whitney Houston, she says her range is most like Anita Baker's.
``I know that I love music,'' Lewis said. ``It has always brought me joy and made me feel good about myself.'' by CNB