Diana Lewis grew up in Coatesville, Pennsylvania. It was here, even at a young age, that it became obvious that Diana was passionate about people. She enjoyed making people smile. No matter what someone was going through, she had the ability to just make people feel better. She left people with the feeling that someone cared. As a young girl, she spent afternoons and Saturday mornings visiting nursing homes to recite poetry, write letters, tell jokes and sing songs. She was involved in her church, often found at the pulpit reciting scripture verbatim. At one such service, during which Diana recited “The Creation” by James Weldon Johnson, a young Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was in attendance. Afterword, he sat Diana on his knee telling her mother she was “destined to be a communicator.” From his lips to God’s ears.
Diana enjoyed a successful career in journalism that spanned 50 years- taking her from Philadelphia to Los Angeles to Detroit. She retired from WXYZ in 2012.
Throughout her career, Diana has received countless accolades. She has been awarded more than twenty Emmy’s including several for Best News Anchor. The Michigan Business and Professional Association honored her with the Media Award for her objective reporting and community involvement. Diana has received both the NATAS Silver and Gold Circle Awards. In May 2007, The Detroit News named Diana Lewis Best Local TV Anchor. The Michigan Chronicle named Diana Lewis as one of their Women of Excellence in 2011, and the Detroit Morehouse College Alumni Association honored Diana with the “Joyous Flame of Excellence Award.” She is a recipient of the lifetime Governors award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (an honor that was presented by her friend and former colleague Regis Philbin). She was inducted into the Michigan Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame and the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame. In August 16, 2018, Diana was inducted into the Oprah Winfrey Gallery of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History – a recognition of her trailblazing work for the advancement of black women in journalism. Being there with her mother, and her entire family, is a memory that still brings tears to her eyes. And this is just a partial list of her professional acknowledgements!
Interestingly, at the same time that Diana was being applauded for her professionalism and journalistic integrity, she was also being honored for her humanitarian efforts. She made it a priority to give back to her community, and her community took notice. The Detroit City Council recognized Diana for service to the community with an official proclamation. She is a recipient of the “Heart of HAVEN” award for her dedication to helping victims of domestic violence. Diana stood alongside ABC’s Bob Woodward as they were both inducted into Variety: A Children’s Charity Hall of Fame and she was the first broadcaster invited to speak before the Michigan State Senate on behalf of Michigan Organ Transplant Tissue Education Program (MOTTEP) supporting organ donation legislation. Again, the list could go on and on.
In 2012, Diana stepped out of the studio and into retirement, but she certainly hasn’t slowed down. She still actively supports and participates in organizations like the Alzheimer’s Association but, of course, Diana’s family will always be her first priority.
In 2017, Diana’s brother, Jim, was put on dialysis. Despite the fact that he lived in Coatesville with their mom, Diana became caregiver. She monitored his care remotely- calling whenever he needed to take his meds, talking with all of the doctors to be sure he was getting all tests and treatment necessary. She flew down to be with Jim and her mom as much as she could while also caring for her husband, Glenn, who had health issues of his own at home.
In January 2021, Jim was diagnosed with a blood clot. One month later while she was on the phone with her mom, he had a massive heart attack and died. Diana’s world was shattered but she couldn’t stop to grieve for long. Her husband and her mother, who was 101 at the time, needed her now even more than ever.
While Diana was working on the funeral arrangements for her brother in Pennsylvania, her daughters, Donna and Glenda, were making plans to move their grandmother, Doris Spann, to Michigan to live with Diana and Glenn.
Diana’s transitioned from celebrated newscaster to full time caregiver as she attended to her husband and now her mother, as well. Always finding the good in any situation, Diana wouldn’t have traded this role for anything despite the toll that that it takes emotionally and physically.
As her mother’s condition worsened, it was a blessing that Glenn’s condition remained stable. For 16 months Diana cared for her mother until she passed in August 2022, at the age of 103.
During this time, Diana was nurse, counselor, housekeeper, cook, and, as her mom was a night owl, she made it all work on little sleep. Diana gave them everything they needed- whether it was food, medicine, hygiene or just someone to listen, she was there. During her mom’s last days, Doris would often talk to Diana as though she was speaking to her deceased sister. Diana would respond has her Auntie would in an effort to make her mom feel calm and enjoy a pleasant conversation. Diana made it her mission to offer as much care and reassurance to these two loves of her life as they were hurt by, and frustrated by, the suffering that comes with aging and illness.
On December 23, 2023, Diana’s husband, Glenn, passed away. Marine Sergeant Glenn Lewis served two tours of duty in Vietnam- he was literally the ‘boots on the ground’ part of a group called the “Walking Dead”. These were the troops who fought, rescued forces when necessary, carried fallen soldiers with dignity and then went back to serve again. Glenn was a true American hero. He exemplified a life of courage and honor.
The exhaustion that comes with caregiving can be overwhelming, but Diana insists that love conquers all- even fatigue. Diana is comforted knowing that she gave Glenn and her Mother everything as they deserved nothing less.
