FLOOD, WILLIE

Services were recently held for Willie Bell Lewis Flood, 72, former Jersey City Councilwoman-at-Large, who passed away on Tuesday, April 24. She was the daughter of Willie Lee Hemphill Lewis and Israel Lewis Jr., the second oldest of 11 children. Born in Greenboro, Ala., she moved to Mobile, Ala., and later Jersey City. With a bachelor of science degree in education from Alabama State University, she began a career as a teacher at P.S. No. 22 School. She was appointed the district’s coordinator of desegregation after completing her master of arts degree in guidance, helping to establishing McNair High School as part of her work. She retired as a teacher but earned a seat on the Jersey City Board of Education from 1996 to 2005, being elected as Councilwoman-At-Large in 1990, serving until 2009. From 2002 to 2004, she also served as mayoral aide to Mayor Glenn D. Cunningham, and as director of Hudson County Senior Affairs, director of Hudson County Consumer Affairs, and was elected Hudson County Register. She was predeceased by her parents Deacon Captain Israel Lewis Jr. and Mrs. Willie Lee Lewis. She is the loving wife of Phillip Terrell Flood Sr.; mother of John Smith of Mobile, Ala., Phillip Flood II of Jersey City, and the late Todd A. Smith; grandmother of Dominique Broughton of Mobile, Ala., and Bryce and Xavier Medard of Jersey City; great-grandmother of Kaylen House of Mobila, Ala.; step-mother of Kenya Medard (Anthony) of Jersey City; sister of Israel Lewis III of Mobile, Ala., Amos Lewis (Cheryl) of McClain, Va., Wesley J. Lewis, Robert F. Lewis (Paulette), Lester R. Lewis, Joycie L. Brown (William), Lisa L. Curtis, and the late Marcel L. Lewis and Linda D. Thomas; niece of Mrs. Leola Wade of Ohio; sister-in-law of John Flood and Deborah Michieka of Jersey City; aunt of the late Henry A. Thomas; godmother of Venus Charles, Sarah Charles, and Doncella Morris of Jersey City, and Yamale Minga of Va.; special friend of Rev. Edward Allen and Katherine Choice of Jersey City, Alfred Rodriquez of N.Y., and Delorice Webb of Minn.; trusted friend of Deloris Morrissette Smith; also survived by many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Services were arranged by the Cotton-Parker Funeral Home, Jersey City.