Joe Lewis

‘As the world turns...You got ta turn with it!'\r\n\r\nAnyone who had the opportunity to chat with the infamous Joe H. Lewis, was privy to the aforementioned quote and quite a few more. He was a master at sharing what he referred to as "classified" information!\r\n\r\nOn April 24, 1936, Sidney Lewis and Charlie Bernice Mitchell Lewis were blessed with their third child and first son, Joe Herman Lewis. Born in Austwell, (Refugio County) Texas and raised until the age of six, he and his family moved to Kerrville, Texas where he underwent treatment for tuberculosis at the Kerrville State Hospital. Being no stranger to Sunday school and church, Joe professed his faith in Christ at an early age and was baptized at Mt. Olive Baptist Church by the late, great Reverend C.V. Everage.\r\n\r\nAlways a dedicated member of the Doyle High School Dragons Alumnus (class of 1955), Joe was an All-Star athlete in four sports (football, basketball, baseball and track) and a scholar student. He remained an avid lover of all sports. After high school, he passed on opportunities to show-case his athletic endeavors at Grambling State University and Prairie View A&M and enlisted into the US Navy from 1955-1958 and served on the USS Shields.\r\n\r\nJoe was employed with the Kerrville Veterans Administration Hospital where he shared his landscaping expertise for thirty-two years.\r\n\r\nJoe loved his family and often shared precious memories of loving times spent with his late father and mother, as well as how he missed his oldest sister, Dorothy "Olivia" Jasper and his baby brother, Reverend Wilfred "Spider" Lewis.\r\n\r\nSixty-three years of marriage to his life-time friend, Sylvia Ann "Shorty" Payne was the wind beneath his wings. God blessed this matrimony with four beautiful girls - Dorothy "Dottie" Dukes (Tim), Joletta "Jo" Lewis, Telissha "Tee" Wesson (Kevin), and Linda "Tick" Liddell (Vincent). Joe cherished his four precious granddaughters - Shayla, Shawna, Rickyl'-Kyl-Kyl' and Vinesha. He favored (for obvious reasons) his twin grandsons - Tristan and Trenton. His greatest moments were spent laughing and playing with his three, extra special great grandchildren - Karsyn Grace, Kaden Alexander and Kori "Girlfriend" Jo!\r\n\r\nJoe and his sister, Elouise "Weeta" Benson were inseparable growing up. They loved and protected one another and remained connected with an unbreakable bond. He was also extremely close to his loving nieces and nephews, and cared greatly for his sisters in law (Barbara and Evelyn), extended relatives and close friends from all walks of the world.\r\n\r\nIt was a passion of Joe's to take a moment and share wisdom and strong words of encouragement to young people of all cultures. As he would say, "I'm tryin' to learn you something!" He met no strangers!\r\n\r\nTo know Lil' Joe "Eli" Lewis was to be exposed to a great deal of history. He not only knew a massive amount of history, he was history in itself. He played Semi-Pro baseball for the Del Rio Twin Chiefs, the Kerrville Indians, and the Kerrville All-Stars in the Negro Baseball League. Joe was inducted into the Tivy High School Sports Hall of Fame for his amazing performances as a scholar athlete at Doyle High School. His phenomenal skills in baseball earned him the honor of being inducted into the Negro Baseball League Hall of Fame. One of his greatest accolades was meeting the great Alex "A-Rod" Rodriguez and sharing some history with him and presenting him with a baseball glove and baseball autographed by one of the greatest to ever do it - Joe H. Lewis.\r\n\r\nHis name - Joe Lewis - suited him well; he was the epitome of a world class fighter!!\r\n\r\nDuring his last earthly days, he would still say... "As the world turns, you got ta turn with it!"\r\n\r\nHe never meant to hurt "nobody," and if he did, he would say, "You got to be tough!" He also never let us forget "It's nice to be important, but more important to be nice!" As he bid us farewell, We're sure he said...\r\n\r\n"The party is Over! Good night Irene!"\r\n\r\nServices will be at 1 PM, Saturday, September 28, 2019 at Grimes Funeral Chapels officiated by Rev. Noah Diggs. \r\n\r\nVisitation will be 6-8 PM, Friday, September 27, 2019 at Mt. Olive Baptist Church. \r\n\r\nBurial will be at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery at 11:15 AM, Tuesday, October 1, 2019.\r\n