Profile written and provided courtesy Nowell Briscoe ( [email protected] )

LENA FELKER LEWIS

1876 – 1965

        Monroe has always been fortunate in having citizens who were interested and focused on the betterment of the community, whether it was civic, social or governmental issues.  One lady in particular showed her love and appreciation for the city by seeing Monroe’s cultural environment remained intact and thriving during her 89 years as a force to be reckoned with.  When the name “Lena Felker Lewis” was mentioned, people took notice because they knew she meant business!

        Lena Felker was born in Monroe in 1876 to parents George W. and Lou Margaret Camp Felker.  Her paternal grandparents were Stephen and Malinda Harben Felker.  Miss Lena received her early education in Monroe and later graduated from the Lucy Cobb Institute in Athens were she was valedictorian of her class.  Returning to Monroe after completing her studies, in 1901 she married local merchant and banker George Allen Lewis.  They became parents of three sons: John, who died in 1933; George A. Jr., and Walton Felker Lewis.  Her husband died suddenly in 1908 leaving her with three boys to raise which she did in an admirable manner.

        Lena Lewis became an active participant in Monroe’s civic and literary life soon after her marriage, serving as president of the local chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy along with the Monroe Women’s Club and as regent of The Daughters of the American Revolution.  When Monroe’s oldest literary  club, The Irving Club, named after Washington Irving, was formed in 1899, Lena Felker and her mother, Mrs. George W. Felker, became two of the founding members.  In 1908 the name of the club was changed to The Athenaeum Club and this organization is still a part of Monroe’s social set 113 years after its founding. Lena Lewis was a faithful member of this club until her death and was one of the first four early presidents in the club’s history.  Her home on Washington Street was always available for these meetings as long as her health permitted her activity.

        Because of her deep interest in not only the history of her home town and county but her family history as well, after the death of her husband, she began using her full name, Lena Felker Lewis to show appreciation for the heritage she descended from.  It became a common trait when a letter or message arrived from Mrs. George A. Lewis, Sr., it was usually signed, “Lena Felker Lewis”.

        Besides being actively involved in literary endeavors in and around Monroe, Lena Lewis had an appreciation of natural beauty in the form of flowers, trees and shrubs.  It was through garden club circles both in Monroe and state-wide, she displayed her knowledge and aptitude as a master gardener.  This talent led to the creation of “Friendship Gardens”, an informal garden area that covered a large portion of the grounds surrounding her home.

        Anita Butts, wrote in the July 27, 1934 issue of the Walton Tribune about the beauty and serenity of the garden Mrs. Lewis had created, gathering together a myriad of plants, shrubs and trees to effectively create a peaceful respite from everyday life.  Bird baths, reflecting pools, paths lined with boxwoods, Dogwood trees and rose bushes led to secluded areas where one might enjoy a cup of tea while leisurely reading an enjoyable novel.  Appreciating the family heritage, she brought in Crepe Myrtle and Cherry trees from her grandmother’s garden to enhance her paradise with beauty and color.

        In her column on Mrs. Lewis’ garden and her talent, Anita wrote: “Friendship Garden, beautiful in its simplicity, provides a haven of leisurely enjoyment and a retreat from the noise and hurry of the outside world.”

        Along with being actively involved with cultural and social concerns of her city, Lena Lewis was a staunch believer in the preservation of her town and its buildings, especially the old buildings from which Monroe built early in its history.

        In 1964 when word reached her of the impending decision to raze the beloved old court house in order to provide more parking for the city, she wasted little time in letting the city and county officials know of her displeasure over what was about to take place.  She wrote letters to the city council members, she spoke to her friends and joined other concerned citizens in speaking out on the serious repercussions the town would suffer if the landmark structure were to be demolished.  In the October 21, 1964 issue of the Walton Tribune appeared a letter to the editor entitled: “Mrs. Lewis Opposes Courthouse Demolition”.  In her letter to not only the editor of the paper but the citizens of Monroe and Walton County as well, Lena Lewis spoke clearly yet eloquently as to the reasons Monroe could not afford to move forward with the ill-conceived idea, citing illustrations of cities across the country who had saved historic buildings and given them a second life through careful and insightful planning.  Thanks to her strong determination, foresight and appreciation in keeping this historic building of Monroe intact, the beautifully renovated and restored courthouse remains an iconic landmark downtown for future generations to enjoy and study.

        Monroe sustained a great loss on Monday, October 11, 1965 when Lena Felker Lewis died at 89 following a long decline in health. Funeral services were held on October 13^th at the Monroe First Methodist Church and then she was laid to rest here among other family members in the prominent section of the cemetery.

I like to think that if Miss Lena had lived a few more years, under her keen eye of observation and desire to keep Monroe buildings intact, we might still have some of those buildings that are now only a memory.  She might have frowned at the thought but I consider her as one of Monroe’s genuine treasures!