Otha Lee Hewitt

Otha Lee Franks Hewitt, fondly known as “Aunt Doc,” passed away peacefully in her home on May 8, 2024 after 100 years 2 months and 3 days. She was surrounded by her family and close friends, reading scripture and listening to her favorite hymns.

Otha, “Doc,” was born in the small community of Bivens, Louisiana on March 5, 1924 to Jesse Robert Franks and Lydia Cochran Franks. As the seventh child in a family of ten children and growing up in the 1920’s in rural Louisiana, she was taught the values of faith in God, family, hard work and resourcefulness. The Franks were known for their deep-rooted family values and their devotion to the Lord, which Otha carried with her throughout her life. She shared a special bond with her siblings, and their upbringing on the family farm strengthened their connections and taught them the importance of unity and faith. Otha loved to tell stories of growing and picking cotton for income, peddling the “Grit” (the rural newspaper), and growing up on “Booger Branch.” Jesse and Lydia also ran the local gas station and country store where the family learned entrepreneurship.

Otha was a lifelong learner graduating as the Valedictorian of Merryville High School in 1941 and then from Vincent’s Business College in Lake Charles in 1945. After graduation, she used her degree in office management to work for the Boling Agency and served in various roles managing and running the Boling family businesses for 80 years.

After starting her career, she met and married Roy Hewitt and made Lake Charles her home. It was there that they raised two children, Charlotte and Kenny, and opened their home to countless others in need of residence. They were some of the original members of Boulevard Church of Christ where she has continued to worship and serve since 1941. She loved her church family and was affectionately known as “Aunt Doc.” She could also be found preaching the gospel to anyone who would listen, including her high school principal and teachers. She loved Bible Study, teaching Bible classes, singing hymns, and a good Bible debate. She could quote scripture and defend her beliefs like a lawyer. Her love and passion for the Lord were evident in every aspect of her life.  She leaves behind a legacy of love, faith, strength and resilience that will continue to inspire all who knew her.

Otha just loved people, especially church and family gatherings. One of her greatest pastimes in her later years was to tell stories about her childhood and those early years working in her career.  She often shared about being born in a time with no running water or electricity and she said the greatest invention ever was air conditioning. She also loved to cook and her grandchildren and great grandchildren cherish their time making “chicken and dumplings” with Grandma.

She is preceded in death by her husband, William Roy Hewitt, her siblings Lily Williams, Lovis Franks, Leonard Franks, Allie Spears, MB Franks, Opal Spears, JD Franks, RC Franks, and Hubert Franks, and daughter-in-law, Melinda Watson Hewitt.

She is survived by her daughter, Lydia Charlotte Hewitt White (Robert) and son, David Kenneth Hewitt (Rita). She is also survived by grandchildren, Jennifer Brewer (Will), Bradley White (Ashley), Amber Robertson (Jason), Hollie Lampton (BJ), Jason White (Lauren), and Hunter Hewitt (Ashley), Clint Rankin, Julie Taylor, and twenty-three great grandchildren.

Otha has been blessed with excellent care since her stroke two and a half years ago provided by St. Joseph’s Hospice of Southwest Louisiana and her caregivers, Linda Love, Inger Bethea, and Marie Wilson. Prior to that, she received excellent care and companionship from Bernie Fontenot and Carol Rudd.

Her funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 in the Johnson Funeral Home Chapel, located at 4321 Lake Street. Hunter Hewitt will officiate. Burial will follow in Bivens Cemetery, 225 Old River Dam Rd., Merryville, LA under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Tuesday morning from 9:00 AM until the start of the service.

If desired, gifts can be made to Boulevard Church of Christ (2801 Enterprise Boulevard, Lake Charles, LA 70601),  Bivens Cemetery Association (Old Dam Rd, Merryville, LA), or St. Joseph’s Hospice of Southwest Louisiana (1773 Ryan St., Lake Charles, LA 70601).