John Lewis

Obituary for John Edward Lewis, Sr.

It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of John Edward Lewis, Sr., who transitioned to glory on June 7, 2024, at the age of 81. Born in Newport News, VA, to Elsie Lewis and Clarence Lewis, John was the first of the three Lewis sons, Clarence (deceased) and Steven. Even as a child, John displayed brilliance and many gifts. At age 10, he served as a pianist and organist at his local church. By age 12, John would hold his high school band's first chair as a clarinetist. A quite accomplished musician who also played oboe, bassoon, and contrabass clarinet, he would go on to receive a full scholarship for music at Perdue University. However, also a scholar, John chose to attend Morehouse College where he majored in history and political science. He would share a story about how he was one of 2 students to receive an A in public speaking from a legendarily challenging professor at Morehouse. The other student was MLK, Jr. John was a proud alumnus of the Morehouse College class of 1965.

An innate and incredibly gifted problem-solver, he was selected as one of forty to serve in the first class of African American scholars chosen by the Ford Foundation to enter the US Foreign Services Program. Ultimately, his foreign service for his country would come in Korea as a US Air Force staff sergeant training troops from 1966-1970. His skill as a problem solver was equally matched with his desire to help others. These qualities resulted in him becoming the director for affordable housing in the Norfolk Housing Authority Program, Model City. John continued to serve as a public servant throughout his career as a social worker and case manager from Hampton Roads to the greater Washington DC metropolitan region. John also worked in retail, real estate, and manufacturing before retiring in 2006 to his most beloved job of all, grandfather and part-time caretaker of his grandchildren.

While his clinical decline was rapid and sudden, he was well enough to share that he believed his greatest accomplishments were as a father of his two (surviving) sons, John, Jr. and Timothy Mark Lewis. He is also survived by his wife, Deborah M. Lewis, Dr. Jennifer Mathew (daughter-in-law), Brittany Lewis (daughter-in-law), and grandchildren Elsa, Elia, John Ezra, and Gifton John Elger.

In lieu of gifts and flowers, please consider supporting the following charitable causes.

Morehouse College Scholarship Fund

https://giving.morehouse.edu/s/give-now

Designation: General Scholarship Fund

Select "This is a tribute to"

In Memory of John E. Lewis, Sr.

Class of 1965

The Alzheimer's Foundation of America

https://apps.alzfdn.org/communityfundraising?PFR=172