Louise Armstrong Lewis

her loving family and caregivers. Louise was born in Columbia, SC to Edgar and Minerva Armstrong on February 11, 1938. Louise will be remembered fondly for her passion for music, her kindness and sense of humor, and for the profound impact she had on the lives of her family, friends, and students.

Louise graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in Richmond, VA in 1954. She met her husband, Roger, while working in Washington D. C., and they were married in Richmond on April 20,1957. Roger’s work with the Federal Highway Administration kept them on the move in the early years of their marriage, and they lived in Gatlinburg, TN; Richmond, VA; Columbus, OH; Washington, D. C.; and Atlanta, GA before settling in Raleigh in 1972. A devoted mother, Louise prioritized raising her children before returning to her education in 1977. She earned a BA in Music in 1984 and a BM in Music Education in 1990, both from Meredith College in Raleigh.

As a strings teacher, Louise positively influenced the lives of countless students. She was an orchestra teacher in the Wake County Public School System from 1985-1999 and later taught private violin lessons in her home through 2020. She also taught strings at the Lamar Stringfield Music Camp in Raleigh for 30 years, as well as volunteering with the Community Music School and Young Strings of the Triangle, providing music lessons to financially disadvantaged children in the area.

Louise’s kind and gentle nature was apparent in the way she supported and inspired her students, sparking a sense of possibility in their young hearts. She helped them soar above their own expectations of what they could achieve, and they loved her for it. In the words of one of her devoted students, “Whenever I think of music, I think of Mrs. Lewis.” Her generous nature compelled her to go above and beyond in sharing the gift of music: she often taught pro bono, drove students to and from lessons, and provided them with violin strings and sheet music.

Louise took an active interest in the lives of her students and their families in ways that transcended music instruction. In one instance, she nominated the sister of one of her students for the Super Kids Scholarship Program founded by former NC Secretary of State Rufus Edmiston. The nominee was awarded the scholarship and went on to attend Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte.

As a violinist, Louise performed for many years with the Raleigh Symphony Orchestra, the Raleigh Civic Symphony, the Durham Symphony, the Meredith College Sinfonietta, and the Carolina Pops Orchestra. She was a frequent soloist at West Raleigh Presbyterian Church, of which she was a member. A lover of chamber music, she also enjoyed gathering with like-minded musicians to play string quartets and perform at special events.

Louise served as board secretary of the Raleigh Symphony Orchestra and was a member of the Music Educators’ National Conference and the North Carolina Music Educators’ Association. She served on the Strings Staff Development Committee for the Wake County Public School System as both member and chair.

Louise loved her family and is survived by her husband, Roger Lewis, their children Allison Jacokes (Dennis), Dale Lewis (Constance), Julie Feeney (John), and Randolph Lewis (Abigail), and grandchildren Caitlin Jacokes, Caroline Jacokes, Allison Feeney, JJ Feeney, Genevieve Lewis, and Sophia Lewis. Also surviving are her sister Dorothy Morris, brother Ed Armstrong (Janice), niece Maria Coleman, and nephews Mike Morris (Terri), Bill Armstrong (Cristine), and Robert Armstrong (Sarah Cate).

In lieu of flowers and in honor of her dedication to her church and to brightening the futures of

young musicians, memorials may be made to West Raleigh Presbyterian Church

(westraleighpres.org) and the Lamar Stringfield Music Camp (stringfieldmusiccamp.com).

Funeral Services, officiated by Rev. Katherine Rick-Miller, will be held on Monday, February 7, 2022 at 10 am at West Raleigh Presbyterian Church. Family will receive friends at a light reception following the service in the church's outdoor courtyard (which has heaters but dress accordingly please).

During the current surge in coronavirus cases, please show your care for the community by always wearing a well-fitting mask inside the building, maintaining social distance when possible and committing not to come to church if you are experiencing any cold, flu or coronavirus-like symptoms and/or have had a recent coronavirus exposure. In order to help us safely accommodate everyone, pre-registration is encouraged. (Pre-Registration: https://forms.gle/JETFSA1yGr8oZfWL6 - hyperlink under Donations)

For those unable to attend the service, the church will be live streaming - the link to join the service may be found within the service box information below.

Graveside Services will be held on Monday at 12:30 pm at the Historic Oakwood Cemetery after the light reception.

If you would like to leave a favorite memory of Louise or a message of condolence to her family, you may do so below within "add a memory".