Obituary of Vivian D. Lewis

Vivian D. Lewis, age 75, of Willingboro, NJ passed away into God’s loving and eternal care on April 15, 2019. She was born in Daytona Beach, FL on March 24, 1944 to the late Reverend Pollard L. Stanford, Sr. & and the late Louise P. Stanford; and raised in the town of Woodsville, Englishtown/Manalapan, NJ. Vivian was formerly married to Clifford F. Lewis in 1968 at The Metropolitan AME Church, Harlem, New York; and is survived by a daughter born of that union, Adrienne P. Lewis-Harris, Willingboro, NJ. She is also survived by her brother, Pollard L. Stanford, Jr., Greensboro, NC; a brother-in-law, Joseph Allen, of Titusville, FL; and two sisters, Lilly Foster, Greensboro, NC; and Brenda Stanford, Titusville, FL; two sisters-in-law, Tilly Stanford of Tega Cay, SC and Kitty Stanford of Trenton, NJ; three aunts, Virginia Brown, Detroit, MI; Daisey Manuel, Sylvania, OH; and Irene Powell, Pensacola, FL; five nieces; Regina, Sherri, Jill, April and Angela; one nephew; Geoff Foster, grand-nieces, grand-nephews; a god-daughter Vivian Charlise Allen; a host of cousins, adopted relatives and friends. Vivian was preceded in death by a sister, Sandra J. Stanford-Allen of Titusville, FL; two brothers, Lorenzo of Tega Cay, SC, and Carl of Trenton, NJ. She graduated from the Millhurst/Englishtown/Manalapan, NJ Elementary School Systems in 1958; and Freehold Regional High School, Freehold, NJ in 1962; and received a Bachelors of Science Degree from Central State University, Wilberforce, OH in 1966 where she studied on a Full Four-Year Academic Scholarship; majoring in Medical Technology with a double minor of Chemistry and Biology. A One Year Medic:11 Technology Internship was completed at Herman Kiefer Hospital, Detroit, MI. She sat for the National MT (ASCP) American Society of Clinical Pathology Registry/Licensing Examination, and became Nationally Registered/Licensed in 1966 (in all states with the exception of New York, Florida, and California which each of these States require MT (ASCP) National Registry as an eligibility requirement to sit for their individual State Licensure Examinations). Vivian had dual careers in her Civilian and Military life. Her Civilian career as a Registered Medical Technologist, BSMT, (ACSP); and an Affiliate Member of The American Society of Clinical Pathologists spanned over more than 45 years during which she worked in the Clinical Laboratory Industry. She worked at Herman Kiefer Hospital, Detroit, MI; at Princeton Medical Center, Princeton, NJ; at Ortho Pharmaceutical Company, Raritan, NJ where she performed Quality Control Testing and Research; at CLM Reference Laboratory, Freehold, NJ as Laboratory Supervisor; at Long Branch Medical Center, Long Branch, NJ where she was Teaching Supervisor in the MT(ASCP) and MT(CLA) Schools of Medical Technology; for the New Jersey State Department of Health and Senior Services, where she then spent 15 years of her career as a New Jersey State/Medicare/HCFA Clinical Laboratory Evaluator, Trenton, NJ; at Corning-MetPath Reference Laboratory, Teterboro, NJ where she served for 5 years as Director of Corporate Quality Audit, Eastern Region. Vivian was considered by her peers and her subordinates as “The-Best-Clinical-Laboratory-Inspector-Ever in the State of New Jersey”. They always said, “She was tough, but fair” and called her “Old Eagle Eyes”, because she had attention to detail; gave on-site immediate instruction while she inspected facilities. She loved her work, and she really tried to make a difference in her Clinical Laboratory/Medical Technology profession. Vivian’s Military career began in 1979 when she was awarded a Direct Commission by The National Guard Bureau, Washington, DC as a First Lieutenant into the New Jersey Army National Guard, United States Army, Adjutant General Corp. This Direct Commission was an appointment at the pleasure of the President of the United States of America. A State of New Jersey Commission Certificate was issued by the New Jersey State Governor, as Commander-in-Chief upon initial appointment, with additional Commission Certificates issued with each Promotion up through the Ranks. She attained the rank of Major with a Primary MOS in Personnel and Resource Management as Administrative Officer; and a Secondary MOS, as a Clinical Laboratory Manager. She earned many Certificates of Training; ribbons, metals, and Meritorious Service A wards. She was awarded 9 years credible service along with her Direct Commission; and served in the New Jersey Army National Guard 14½ years; and U.S. Army Reserves for (3) three years prior to an Honorable Discharge from the US Army in 1996. Vivian was most recently an active member of The Church of The Good Shepherd, UMC, Willingboro, NJ where she had been a member of the Sanctuary Choir; and Gospel Choir; and served on many committees. From an early age, she was always active in the church and sang on church choirs throughout her life; first at First Born Church of God in Christ (COGIC), Freehold, NJ, a church built by her late father, the Reverend Pollard L. Stanford, Sr.; at St. James AME, Woodsville, NJ; at St. Paul AME Church, Trenton, NJ; at Asbury-Cadwalder UMC, Trenton, NJ; and Bethel AME, Freehold, NJ. She was a gentle, loving, and caring person who gave unselfishly and loved unconditionally. Her special gift from God was a sweet voice, and a love for singing. Her zest for life, strong will, and enduring faith brought her through some very difficult and distressing times in her life; but she always had a smile and words of encouragement for family, friends, co-workers and all those who knew her. She loved to sing, garden, cook, bake, entertain in her home, and travel. The viewing will be held at the Higgins Memorial Home, 20 Center Street, Freehold on Friday, April 26, from 9 to 11 a.m. Funeral services will be held at the funeral home on Friday at 11 a.m. followed by interment at Maplewood Cemetery, Freehold. Lovingly Submitted, The Family