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Friday, November 25, 2011

R.S. Lewis (1919-2011)

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  1. Robert Stevenson Lewis Jr., 92, passed November 21, 2011 in Memphis, TN. Robert Lewis Jr., was owner of R.S. Lewis & Sons Funeral Home, and the company is now proudly celebrating over 90 years of distinguished service. Throughout his life, Robert has been active in various causes, often in their early and formative stage. Among those, he acted as the second chairman of annual Memphis NAACP freedom fund dinner event. He was key participant in a movement to bring about the hiring of the first African-American firemen in Memphis is 1955. He fought to establish the T. O. Fuller State Park, which provided one of the first community recreational facilities available for use by the African-American public in Memphis. He was the first African-American selected to serve on the five-person licensing committee of the Alcohol Beverage Commission in the city. Robert was one of the first to be elected "King" of the annual Cotton Maker's Jubilee, a parade event honoring the previously uncelebrated contribution of African-Americans to the successful Cotton business in the mid-south area. Recognizing the need to foster the youth element, Robert has been active in the Boys Clubs of America, and the Porter-Leath organization, which provides support to low-income children and families in Memphis. At Porter Leath, he was the only minority on the 14-member governing board. In honor of his late brother, Robert established the Clarence E. Lewis Scholarship Award at Booker T. Washington High School, which is given annually to a graduating senior who has demonstrated scholastic achievement and promise. Robert has been a devout churchgoer and life-long member of Centenary United Methodist Church in Memphis where he attended as a child with his grandmother. He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity and the Sigma Pi Phi ("Boule") fraternity, the first Greek-letter fraternity to be founded by African American Men. Service for Mr. Robert S. Lewis Jr., as follows: Public Visitation, Saturday, November 26, from 12 noon till 4 p.m. at R.S. Lewis & Sons Funeral Home, 374 Vance Ave. and Sunday, November 27, at 3 p.m. until 5:55 p.m. at Centenary United Methodist Church, 584 E. McLemore Ave. with Memorial Service to follow at 6 p.m. Celebration of Life and Legacy Service, Monday, November 28 at 12 noon held at Pentecostal Temple Church of God In Christ, 229 Danny Thomas Blvd. Interment in Elmwood Cemetery.

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