Ola Jane Lewis

Ola Jane Phelps Lewis, 94, of Gulfport passed away of natural causes on February 1, 2022.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Clinton Lewis; two sons, JB Lewis and Joe Lewis; granddaughter, Shandas Martin and a great-grandson, Jared Lewis; her parents, Rev AB and Elsie Phelps; a sister, Ethel Brumbaugh; brothers, Curmit Phelps and TW Phelps’ maternal grandparents, Joseph Edward Bang and Taniese “Cargo” Belton Bang; paternal grandparents, James Richard Phelps and Nancy Mahala Garlic Phelps; maternal great-grandparents, Pierre Bang, Sr and Martha Loper Bang; John Belton, Mary Jane Carcaux; paternal great-grandparents, James Phelps, Rose Phelps, Joseph Garlic, Jr and Nancy Josephine Danley Garlic.

She is survived by her 7 grandchildren, Theresa (John) Cuevas, Cameron (Victoria) Lewis, Christy (Jeremy) Hayes, David (Kim) Lewis, Carlos Nabors, Tiffany Taylor, Stephany Taylor, 26 great-grandchildren, 15 great-great-grandchildren; her sister, Gloria Stafford; her brother, Bert (Carol) Phelps Jr; 2 sisters-in-law, Johnnie Phelps and Eva Waits; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Ola was a graduate of Gulfport High School class of 1946. She was a native of Gulfport her whole life. Ola loved people. She never met a stranger and always knew everyone’s parents and grandparents. Ola was a devoted Christian and a member of Free Church of God. She was a beloved Sunday school teacher for many years and taught just about everyone in west Gulfport. She was known for her kindness and her love for teaching people about Jesus. She would take her Sunday school class to visit the sick and the elderly that were homebound or in a nursing home. She loved to sing in church and you could always count on her for a ride to Church. Along with her sisters, she opened Three Sisters Florist. She was a talented floral designer.

She also helped her husband in the seafood industry. They owned shrimp boats and several seafood markets in the Gulfport harbor. She loved her children and grandchildren. One of the hardest things she endured was losing both of her children. She was a member of the Pascagoula River Tribe.  Her great-grandfather, Joseph Garlic, Sr, was one of the Elders who along with several other members of the tribe, traveled to Meridian, MS in 1902 to petition the federal government to seek land under Article 14 of the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek.  The tribe is currently seeking federal acknowledgement.
She was so happy and honored to have her great granddaughter Courtney Jane and great-great granddaughter Norah Jane named after her. We would like to thank Aunt Gloria for taking care of our grandmother in her final time. We will forever be grateful she had you and know that she loved you so much.

Visitation will be on Saturday, February 5, 2022, from 9:30 am - 10:30 am at the Riemann Family Funeral Home, 11280 Three Rivers Rd., Gulfport.  The funeral service will be at 10:30 am in the funeral home chapel.  Interment will be in Free Church of God Cemetery.

Online condolences may be offered at www.riemannfamily.com