Rev. Dr. James M. Lewis, Jr., son of the late Rev. James M. Lewis, Sr. (former pastor of Union Chapel Baptist Church-WS) and the late Annie Mae Richardson Lewis was born in Winston-Salem, NC on February 10, 1948. He quietly slipped away from our midst on Sunday, March 5, 2023.



Affectionately known as "Dean Lewis," he was educated in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School System, graduated from Anderson Senior High School and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics at Clark-Atlanta University in Atlanta, Georgia. He completed coursework in Biblical Studies at Shaw University School of Divinity, Piedmont Bible College, Vintage Bible College and Living Epistle Bible College and was trained in Clinical Pastoral Education at Wake Forrest Baptist Medical Center, Department of Chaplaincy and Pastoral Education. He was also a certified Pharmacy Technician, Childhood Administrator, and HIV/AIDS Instructor.



Rev. Dr. Lewis received Jesus Christ as his personal Savior at the age of seven at the Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church and was licensed and ordained in the ministry in 1987. Prior to entering the ministry, he served as a Deacon, Sunday School Superintendent, Chairman of the Trustee Board, and Director of Christian Education.



As a Christian Education consultant, he led workshops throughout the states of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee and Virginia. His past services include Executive Secretary for the High Point Educational and Missionary Baptist Association (HPEMBA), the first appointed Dean of HPEMBA (30 yrs.), Dean of the Forsyth County Sunday School Union, Assistant Dean for the Congress of Christian Education, General Baptist State Convention NC, Inc., delegate to the National Baptist Convention, U.S.A. and teacher at the Forsyth County Training Institute.



In 2006, he began serving as an Assistant Pastor at Jones Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, Reidsville, NC and in 2013 was installed as pastor. He was serving as Interim Pastor of the United Cornerstone Missionary Baptist Church (W-S) at the time of his transition.



Rev. Dr. Lewis was a member of Salem Lodge #139, PHA, Past Worthy Patron for Meridian Chapter #138 OES, PHA, Treasurer of the Ministers Alliance of Winston-Salem and active supporter of the jail ministry.



Rev. Dr. Lewis was preceded in death by his parents and foster sister Iphigenia Carrigan. He leaves to cherish his memories two sons, Ret. Lt. Colonel (US Army) James M. Lewis, III (Kristen) and Brian Lamont Lewis-Hardy; sister Patricia (Ret. Captain US Air Force Alfonzo) Hilliard; foster sister Barbara (Jerry) Isom; six grandchildren-Keegan, Trey, Chase, Kayleigh, Caitlyn and Van; nephew and special nieces, Gerrick Hilliard Sr.,Tamara Hilliard, and Leticia Carrigan; very dear and devoted friends, Brenda Dawkins and Bobby Stewart; nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives, ministry colleagues and friends too numerous to name.



Dean Lewis' motto was: "I can never be what I ought to be until you become what you ought to be."



Words of Wisdom: "If you don't go, you won't know!"

A public viewing will be held Friday from 3pm until 5pm at Douthit's. Funeral services will be held Saturday March 18, 2023 at 11:00am from Morning Star Baptist Church and interment will follow in Piedmont Memorial Gardens. Arrangements are in the care of Douthit Funeral Service.