JAMES FREEMAN LEWIS SR.
Dec. 13, 1935-Dec. 9, 2011
Mr. James Freeman Lewis Sr., affectionately called "Mr. Lewis," was born in Wayne County, Goldsboro, Dec. 13, 1935, to Sylvester and Ava Best Lewis.
James Freeman received his formal education in Wayne County Public Schools.
Dec. 8, 1965, Rebecca M. Williams Lewis was united in holy matrimony to James Freeman Lewis Sr. They were blessed with four children.
He was employed with the Jewel Box and Goldsboro Country Club, and later accepted employment with Wayne County Public Schools, where he retired in 2000.
As a child, he attended Woods Chapel Free Baptist Church with his father. He was a member of Jerusalem Free Will Baptist Church in Seven Springs, where he sang in the senior choir. Because of the distance to drive and his failing health, he joined Greenleaf Christian Discipline of Christ Church in Goldsboro.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Rebecca; his father, Sylvester; his mothers, Ava Best Lewis and Big Mama Lucy Parks Lewis; and a great-grandchild, Santansia Richardson.
Friday, Dec. 9, 2011, at approximately 9:45 p.m. at Wayne Memorial Hospital in Goldsboro, he departed this life surrounded by his family.
The dash between 1935 and 2011 represents 75 years and 362 days of loving, sharing, serving and hoping.
He leaves to cherish his loving memories two sons, James Freeman Lewis Jr. and his wife, Brenda of Goldsboro and Alton Brent Lewis and his wife, Frankie, of Goldsboro; two daughters, Angeline Kay Williams of Durham and Sharron James-Bizzell and her husband, Joseph, of Goldsboro; 11 grandchildren, Joseph II, DeVaughn Jr., Kevone, Shayna, Lauren, Dominique, Duante', Leslie, LaMont, LeVires and CanTonia; 14 great-grandchildren, D'Meyia, Lauren, E'Mani, Sasheonna, Sayveonna, Delisha, Camden, Aliseah, Lamontica, Dejah, LeVres Jr., Jeffrey, Antique and Kamiya; a sister, Lucy DeVaughn of Goldsboro; an uncle, Napoleon Lewis of Goldsboro; two special cousins, Annie McLaurin and Alfonso Lewis of Goldsboro; three brothers-in-law, Ernest Williams (Mary) of Kinston, Ben Frank Williams (Margaret) New York and James H. Sutton of Silver Spring, Md.; two sisters-in-law, Kathryn Poe (McArthur) of Sumter, S.C., and Pearlie Williams of New Haven, Conn.; and several nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.
Family and friends will be received at 807 Best S. Best St. in Goldsboro.
A visitation will be held Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2011, from 4 to 7 p.m. at E.M. Matthews Funeral Home.
A service of remembrance will be held Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2011, at 11 a.m. at Greenleaf Christian Disciples of Christ Church, 2110 N. William St., Goldsboro.
Following the services in the sanctuary, Mr. Lewis' delicate temple, along with his adored family, will be escorted to Old Mill Cemetery for interment rites.
Mr. Lewis' earthen vessel is peacefully resting at E.M. Matthews Funeral Home, where the Lewis and connected families are receiving prestigious service.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on December 12, 2011 1:50 PM