Note Type
Historical NoteNote
Edith Lewis 1889-1983
Edith Lewis was born on a farm near Salina, Kansas, homesteaded by her parents, Mr. and Mrs.
Ebenezer Washburn. After graduating high school, she attended the Teacher’s Institute in Salina, Kansas
where she received her diploma and began teaching at the Eff Creek School until her marriage. In 1913
Edith and her husband moved to Fort Lauderdale.
In 1914 she began working at H.G. Wheeler Department store, less than one block north of the New
River on Brickell Ave. At this time there were two departments in the store, Lady’s and Men’s. Edith
managed the Lady’s department. A member of the Rebekah Lodge No. 30, she served as Noble Grand in
her lodge in Kansas, also the Caloosa Lodge in Fort Lauderdale. In 1917 she was appointed as the district
deputy for the jurisdiction of Fort Lauderdale. In 1921 Edith became a charter member of the American
Legion Auxiliary in Fort Lauderdale. She served for two years as President and four years as Secretary,
besides serving as Chairman of many committees. In 1925 Edith served as Chairman of the State Legion
Auxiliary convention held in Fort Lauderdale. Edith became a charter member of the Business and
Professional Women’s Club of Fort Lauderdale in 1926. She served as club president in 1930-1931 and
again in 1940-1941.
Edith began her employment at the Broward County Credit Bureau on October 3, 1945, and retired
November 17, 1970. In 1950, Joe Graham, then owner of the Credit Bureau, said he would like to see a
Credit Women’s Breakfast Club formed in Fort Lauderdale. He asked Edith if she would help organize it
since she already had club experience. In a short amount of time, with the help of the Miami club and
Mr. Graham, the Women’s Credit Club was formed in Fort Lauderdale with Edith Lewis serving as its first
President.Note Type
Historical NoteNote
Lillie Mae Smith 1892-1990
Lillie Mae Smith arrived in Fort Lauderdale from Ludowici, Georgia in 1921. That same year she became
Broward County’s first female tax collector. A position she held from 1921-1929. She experienced some
of Fort Lauderdale’s most tumultuous times during her service with the county. Often referring to these
times as the “3 B’s”, which stood for the Boom, the Blow, and the Bust. The Boom represented the real
estate and building surge, the Blow for the 1926 hurricane, and the Bust was the Great Depression.
L to R: Mrs. Edith Lewis, Miss Lillie Mae Smith, Miss Cromer, Miss Vincens, Eleanor Boyd, and Mrs. Taylor.
History Fort Lauderdale Photograph Collection
After her retirement from the Tax Collector’s Office, Lillie joined her brother, John H. Smith, and operated
Sinclair Gasoline Service Station at the Corner of Las Olas Blvd. and Federal Highway until the early 1940s.
Lillie was an active member of the community. She was a member and served as the President of the
Business and Women’s Professional Club. A member of the First Baptist Church of Fort Lauderdale and
the Order of the Eastern Star, Lillie received several honors from the pioneers of Fort Lauderdale for her
“faith, foresightedness and devotion to our town.”
History Fort Lauderdale Photograph Collection