News

March 20, 2020 | From City of New Orleans

MAYOR CANTRELL ISSUES STATEMENT ON THE PASSING OF RONALD LEWIS

Ronald Lewis CROP


NEW ORLEANS — Mayor LaToya Cantrell today issued the following statement on the passing of Ronald Lewis:


"Our hearts are heavy with the passing of Ronald Lewis. Ronald was the very definition of a culture bearer – as the founder of the Original Big Nine Social Aid & Pleasure Club, and the director of the House of Dance & Feathers in his beloved Lower 9th Ward. Talk about a survivor. Ronald survived Hurricane Betsy and wouldn’t bow down even after his house was consumed by 14 feet of water during Katrina. Over the years he told the world about the rich street culture of New Orleans, exhibiting at Jazz Fest and other spaces as he explained the complexities of the Black Indians of Mardi Gras. He survived so much, and gave us so much. May he rest in God’s perfect peace."

 

(Photo courtesy Pableaux Johnson)

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