Biography: On Monday, September 17, 2018, Rhonda D. Lewis-Cherry, a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, daughter, sister and aunt, passed away unexpectedly at the age of 57 years old at the Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York.
Born in New York City, Rhonda was predominately raised in the Morrisania section of the Bronx by her parents (Ms. Harriet Lewis and Mr. Eugene Morman). She received her formal education through the New York City Public School System. After leaving Evander Childs High School, she later enrolled at the Cosmopolitan Beauty School to study cosmetology.
In her early childhood, Rhonda attended Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church in the New York, New York. She loved to compete in track and field, and she attended dance classes as a child. Later, she developed a prodigious talent for cooking and the love of music. She followed her own fashion trend from a young age, and she did not replicate anyone’s style in her later years of life.
Although her work career began in culinary arts at the Triboro Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing, she also catered for the Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Office Building in Harlem, New York. Later, she was employed by the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation, and for a number of years up until her premature death, she returned to her passion in the field of home care and geriatrics.
Rhonda was deeply devoted to her family, friends and patients. From her firstborn child to the last natural child, and all of her stepchildren, surrogate children and grandchildren, she taught them structure, especially to be respectful, responsible and to love and care for another. She was exceptionally proud of all of the above. These edicts transcended to other family members and close friends, just because of the person she was.
In 2010 Rhonda rededicated her life to God and joined Goodwill Baptist Church in the Bronx, New York. She loved her new walk with her Lord and Savior, as well as the new inward/outward transformations in her life. She enjoyed learning more about God and encouraging other family and friends to taste and see how good the Lord is for themselves.
She is survived by: her loving and devoted husband, Tyrone; a blended family of six sons: Antione, Dashun, Taron, Tyrik, Dejone and Chad; three daughters: India, Tania (Dameul) and Nicole (Fabian); her mother, Harriet Lewis; four sisters: Mary (Michael), Jan, Renee and Ebony; two brothers: Kevin and Eric; two very close stepchildren: Tihicky and Lakeisha; twenty-one grandchildren, one great-granddaughter; and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives, godchildren and friends. Her father, Mr. Mormon and son, Anthony preceded her in death.
