After several months of suffering from a sudden heart attack that struck without warning in July, Ebony Marie Lewis of Pontiac, Michigan, took her final breath on November 22, 2025, at the age of 25. Surrounded by family who had barely left her bedside, she passed peacefully at 3:27 p.m., ending a fight that revealed the full depth of her strength and spirit.
Born August 14, 2000, Ebony was the bold heartbeat of a big, bustling family, the fourth oldest of nine siblings and the second-oldest daughter who carried herself like the leader of the pack. To her fourteen nieces and nephews she was simply the best aunt in the world, the one who showed up with snacks, braids, and the kind of love that made every child feel chosen.
Wherever Ebony walked in, energy followed. She filled rooms with laughter that started deep in her chest, spoke truth with unapologetic confidence, and wrapped people in hugs that felt like home. Family gatherings were louder and longer because she was there, turning ordinary weekends into celebrations no one wanted to end.
For 137 days she defied the odds, smiling through pain, cracking jokes between treatments, and reminding everyone that courage can wear lip gloss and a ponytail. Even when her body grew tired, her spirit never dimmed. Now the house feels strangely quiet and the group chats sit idle. Yet every memory of Ebony still sparks the same bright laughter she always left behind.
Friends and loved ones will gather Saturday, December 20, at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church in Pontiac, with visitation at 11:00 a.m. and the funeral service at noon. A GoFundMe continues to ease the family’s burden, proof of how many lives Ebony’s short, brilliant flame managed to warm.
Ebony Marie Lewis lived large, loved fiercely, and fought bravely. At 25 she taught Pontiac a lifetime’s worth of lessons about strength, joy, and the power of showing up fully for the people you love.