At 100, Hazel Joseph Lewis Is Still Living Life on Her Own Terms
By RoShawn Winburn, Dayton Weekly News
Hazel Joseph Lewis is still driving.
At 100 years old, that alone says something about a woman who has spent most of her life going where she pleased, on her own schedule.
Lewis, born Sept. 5, 1926, recently celebrated her 100th birthday with family and friends at The Art of Work in Dayton. Asked what the milestone means to her, she kept her answer simple: she's happy to still be here.
Her nephew, Christopher Joseph, describes his aunt as a rare mix of independence, discipline, curiosity and faith. Within the family, she was always the "cool single auntie" — worldly, athletic, prone to driving sports cars. She swam, golfed, bowled and played tennis for much of her life, and still swims and plays bridge today.
Lewis came to the Dayton area in the late 1940s, in the years after World War II, following her older brother, the late Norman A. Joseph. Norman had served in the war and gone on to attend Wilberforce University. Hazel graduated from Uhrichsville High School in 1946 and made her own way to the region shortly after, eventually building a career distinct from her brother's path.
She started as a clerk-stenographer in federal civilian service and worked her way up to contracting officer for the Defense Electronics Supply Center, a career that spanned more than 40 years. Retirement didn't slow her down much. She spent another 25 years working part time in data entry for Koehler Components.
"We only have one life, so we must take care of ourselves and make it the best it can be," Lewis says in a family biography prepared for her birthday. Her life advice is to stay active, treat people well, pray, give thanks, and keep moving.
Faith has anchored her throughout..Lewis serves as a Steward at Greater Allen AME Church in Dayton, and her favorite scripture, Psalm 23, sits alongside a simple rule she's lived by, "do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
She's the last surviving of five siblings born to Caribbean immigrant parents. She has no children of her own, but the extended family that gathered to celebrate her century made clear how far her influence reaches. Joseph says younger relatives can learn from her how to live fully and on their own terms, while remaining, in his words, "a humble servant of God." The National Council of Negro Women recognized Lewis as part of its "Ladies in Their 80s and Beyond" honors.
Joseph organized the birthday celebration and chose The Art of Work in part because he works nearby and had gotten to know the venue's provost, Keith Jenkins. "My auntie deserved a beautiful celebration for such a milestone," he said.
A century in, Lewis's own words may be the clearest summary of how she got there:
"Keep your life moving, be active and involved, and don't be afraid to ask God for guidance along the way.” - Hazel Joseph Lewis
The Art of Work is a pioneering, holistic professional development ecosystem in Dayton, marrying productivity, wellness, creativity, and culture under one ascendant roof.
Keith Jenkins, Provost
(937) 312-4468
Performance Place, Dayton, Ohio 45402
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