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BORN
1931
DIED
2024
FUNERAL HOME
1130 N. Winstead Ave
Rocky Mount, North Carolina
Gene Lewis Obituary
November 10, 1931 - April 6, 2024
Rocky Mount, North Carolina - Gene L. Lewis, Sr., age 92, passed away on April 6, 2024. Born in Henrico County VA on November 10, 1931, he was the son of the late Joseph Abernathy and Anna Dinwiddie Lewis. He was preceded in death by his brother, Jack Dinwiddie Lewis and his sister, Betty Ann Lasley.
Gene was the founder and chairman of Lewis Advertising, Inc. The agency maintains its home office in Rocky Mount NC. He was a graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School in Richmond and a 1953 graduate of Virginia Tech where he obtained a bachelor's degree in science. After serving two years active duty in the U.S. Army as a lieutenant, he spent three years in retail sales. He entered the advertising profession in 1959 working with agencies in Virginia, North and South Carolina. In 1969 he founded Lewis Advertising.
Gene was the recipient of numerous professional civic awards including the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Advertising Hall of Fame, the American Advertising Federation Silver Medal Award, the Governor's Award for Distinguished Service to the Agri-Business Industry, the Rocky Mount Area Chamber of Commerce Distinguished Citizen of the Year Award, the East Carolina Council Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Citizen Award, the NC 4-H Outstanding Service Award and the NC State University Outstanding Volunteer Award.
A man of great faith, he was a long-time member of the First United Methodist Church in Rocky Mount.
Gene is survived by his wife of 70-years, Nancy Adkins Lewis, his son, Gene L. Lewis, Jr. (Margaret) of Rocky Mount NC; his daughter, Teresa Cairns of County Tipperary, Republic of Ireland; four grandchildren, Kristie Kennedy (Benjamin) of Raleigh NC, Ryan Lewis (Molly) of Charleston SC, Neville Cairns of London, Great Britain and Jeremy Cairns of County Tipperary, Republic of Ireland; three great-grandchildren, Asher, Abigail and Katherine Kennedy and many nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Gene's Life will be held on Thursday, May 9, 2024, at 3:00 PM at the Rocky Mount First United Methodist Church. Following the service, a celebration of Gene Lewis' life will continue during a reception at Lewis Advertising, 1050 Country Club Road, Rocky Mount NC 27804. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Gene's memory to The Rocky Mount First United Methodist Church, 100 S. Church St., Rocky Mount NC 27804.
Arrangements entrusted to Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 1130 N. Winstead Avenue, Rocky Mount, NC 27804. You may share memories and condolences with the family by visiting www.wheelerwoodlief.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
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Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home & Cremation Services - Rocky Mount1130 N. Winstead Ave, Rocky Mount, NC 27804
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