John Earl Lewis

John Earl Lewis, age 89 of the Thompson Valley Community in Tazewell, Va., died Thurs., Jan. 22, 2009 at his home. He was born March 13, 1919 at Washington, DC, and grew up in Marshallberg, N.C. He lived in Beaufort, N.C. from 1948 until 1975 when he and his wife, Lyde Thompson Lewis, moved to Tazewell, Va., where they resided on her family farm in Thompson Valley, Va. Mr. Lewis was saved by grace as a teenager and joined the Ann St. Methodist Church in Beaufort, N.C., with his wife, Lyde, in 1950. In 1975, he became a member of the Main St. United Methodist Church in Tazewell, Va. He was active in his churches with Bible studies, serving as Sunday School teacher and choir member. Mr. Lewis was also a Shriner, 33rd degree Mason, a Paul Harris Fellow and member of the Tazewell Rotary Club, was past president of the Tazewell Chamber of Commerce where he was awarded Citizen of the Year. He was a charter member and past chairman of the Thompson Valley Community Emergency Services, Inc., which includes the Thompson Valley Fire Department, Rescue Squad, and the Thompson Valley Community Center. His career expanded many years and included various endeavors of which he worked very hard and enthusiastically to achieve success. He always carried a "can do" attitude and was an extraordinary fundraiser on many projects. He was a Corporal in the US Army serving in Europe during World War II. After the war, he began his career as a Chrysler Plymouth Dodge Dealer for Port City Motors in Morehead City, N.C., and then became Sales Manager for Dick Parker Ford in Havelock, N.C. During his years in North Carolina, he also served as President of East Carteret High School Booster Club and was instrumental in the construction of the athletic facilities. After moving to Tazewell, Va., he worked as Sales Manager of Ramey Chevrolet in Tazewell, Va. He also worked with the Tazewell County Industrial Development Corporation and actively participated in the development of the Cavitts Creek Dam. He was preceded in death by his mother, Hilda Brown Bertram, and his wife of 55 years, Lyde Thompson Lewis. Survivors include three sons, Robert Shavender Lewis and John Courtney Lewis, both of the Thompson Valley community in Tazewell, Va., and William Thompson Lewis and wife, Charlotte Stanford Lewis, of Carrollton, Ga.; three grandchildren, Dr. Zachary Thompson Lewis and wife, Ashley Peery Lewis, Lindsay Lewis Jennings and husband, William Newton Jennings, and Chesley Lauren Lewis; three great grandchildren, Taylor Grace Lewis, William Newton Jennings, and George Hutchinson Jennings; and his compassionate caregivers Pat Atkinson, Cheryl Horn, Anna Marie Miller, Tazewell Community Home Health and Legacy Hospice. Funeral services were conducted at 1:00 p.m. Sat., Jan. 24, 2009 at Main St. United Methodist Church in Tazewell, Va., with the Rev. Kathie Wilson-Parker officiating. Burial followed at Maplewood Cemetery in Tazewell, Va. Pallbearers were Charles S. Jones, William Neal Lewis, John Marion Hardesty, Darrell Horn, George Ward Bowen, and James Thomas Bowen. Honorary pallbearers were Martin Atkinson, William Gillespie, Eric Whitesell, Rees T. Bowen, VII, John Way, David T. Larimer, I and members of the Tazewell Rotary Club. The family received friends at the church from 11:00 a.m. until the time of the service, Sat., Jan. 24, 2009. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be directed to the Lyde Thompson Lewis and John Earl Lewis Memorial Fund at Main St. United Methodist Church, 315 E. Main St., Tazewell, VA or the Thompson Valley Community Center, C/O David T. Larimer, Treasurer, 111 Ben Bolt Ave. Tazewell, VA 24651. Peery & St.Clair Funeral Home of Tazewell, Va., served the Lewis family.