Frances Vann Lewis, 102, former restaurant and hospital employee

IF YOU WANT to live more than 100 years, the key word just might be love.

That's what Frances Vann Lewis would have told you.

When asked to what she attributed her long life, she had one simple answer: "Love everybody."

Not always a simple assignment in a world of increasing stress, you might say, but Frances - called "Nana" by friends and family - would have insisted on it.

After all, she did it.

Frances Vann Lewis, who worked for a Horn & Hardart restaurant on South Broad Street and for the former Graduate Hospital, a devoted churchwoman and family matriarch, died Friday at age 102. She was living in the Riverside Presbyterian Apartments in Center City, but had lived most of her life in South Philadelphia.

Born when Woodrow Wilson was president, Frances lived to see an African-American elected to the White House, and the evolution of an increasingly complex social structure, but one standard remained intact:

Love everybody.

"She was always known to give words of wisdom to the young men and women who came in contact with her," her family said. "She dedicated her life to helping others."

"She was very knowledgeable, and alert to what was going on," said her adopted granddaughter, Annette Randolph. "Whatever you were going through, you knew there was one person you could really go to and talk to."

Nana had that listening ear, always there for anyone who might need a good dose of mother wit - and love.

"She always had encouraging words, and you didn't have to worry about what you talked about going any further. It was between you and her."

Frances was born in Sarah Gordon, N.C., to William and Lottie Vann. She moved to Philadelphia, where she married Aaron Lewis.

Frances was employed by Horn & Hardart as a server for more than 25 years, then worked with Graduate Hospital in housekeeping until she retired.

She was a member of the Tasker Street Missionary Baptist Church, where she became a prayer warrior and mother of the church. She was active in the Sunday school and Bible-study classes.

Frances worked for a time in community flower gardens in South Philadelphia, volunteering her knack for growing plants because, as her family said, she loved the beauty of flowers. Of course, she had a garden at home.

Frances had a keen fashion sense and wouldn't leave home without being stylishly dressed.

"She loved to dress," her granddaughter said. "Everything matched, from head to toe, and was the same color."

In addition to her granddaughter, Frances is survived by three sisters, Myrtle Williams, Carrietta Bellamy and Atheria Ware.

Services: 10 a.m. Monday at Tasker Street Missionary Baptist Church, 2010 Tasker St. Friends may call at 9 a.m. Burial will be at Fernwood Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Henry T. McCrary Scholarship Fund of the Tasker Street Missionary Baptist Church, 2010 Tasker St., Philadelphia 19145.