Mr. John Dennis Lewis

Our dear John Dennis Lewis “Pop”, age 65, of Orange, Alabama, born June 22nd, 1959, in Memphis Tennessee, graduated to the kingdom of our Lord on the morning of Saturday, August 31st, 2024, with the sunrise. If you knew John, then chances are you heard one of his many stories from the past and you more than likely quickly realized that his favorite topic was his wife, high school sweetheart, and the love of his life, Lesa. Their love story is a sweet one of two high school students meeting on the front steps of Central High School, after John gave a hand gesture to Lesa’s boyfriend at the time while driving by. Lesa would have words for John and even though he had been secretly admiring her and what he called “her cute toddle” for months, it was in that moment, that her feisty spirit won his heart. John would go on to sweep Lesa off her feet quickly with his charm and adoration for her. He graduated Central High School in 1977. They would marry one year later at Central Christian Church, in July of 1978, before the start of Lesa's senior year of high school, you would often hear John boast about being the one to sign her report cards that year. They would go on to spend a total of forty-seven loyal and loving years together. It was a love that many desire yet few ever know. John enjoyed his high school ROTC team so much that he went onto enlist in the Army after graduation. He served until he was honorably discharged due to injury. He considered reenlisting after a while but couldn’t bear the thought of being apart from his person again. However, John always exuded a strong passion and love for his country and many people that knew him commented and commended his strong patriotism. You never saw his home without an American flag proudly flying. John lived a life without fear, always striving to learn while gaining new and vast skills. He had many hobbies throughout his lifetime. He was a certified scuba diver, an avid fisherman and hunter, he loved a round of paintball, enjoyed a round of golf on occasion, puzzles, 3-D printing, cars, cards and the occasional slot machine, he loved horseback riding in his younger years. The list is long and never ending. John was a visionary and talented craftsman. He built many fences throughout Memphis, an imaginative playhouse in his daughter’s room, and a stunning deck for his mother, just to name a few. John was handy under the hood of a car and loved working on and taking care of their van. In fact, he was out working on his car the day before he passed. Family game and movie nights seemed to be his favorite though. John took a couple of flying lessons in a Cessna 172 and arranged for his kids to tag along. He loved walks on the beach and bike rides with his “person” wife, Lesa. They had many shows they followed and enjoyed spending all their time together. John had several very special pets throughout his lifetime. His favorite dog was a pitbull, that he affectionately called Thunder. He took him everywhere with him, until Thunder's eventual passing. Perhaps one of his favorite pets was Babe, a conure gifted to him by his beloved mother-in-law, Lois. After he was successful in training him, John and Lesa continued to buy and train exotic birds for several years. Though Babe was his pride and joy. John deeply loved and cherished him for many years. His last pet on Earth was his beloved orange tom cat Tigger, who was registered as his emotional support animal. John would spend much time throughout his day entertaining and playing with Tigger. John would dabble in several lines of work over his lifetime as he had many interests and passions. John had many fond memories and stories to tell of spending time with his dad and helping him out when he was a little boy, at the Manhattan Nightclub and Tradewinds Nightclub, in the 60’s in Memphis, TN. Perhaps his largest passion was music, and he very much enjoyed spending time in the recording studio in the 80’s. He loved cars and owned “Wax Wagon Detailing" with his wife, Lesa in the 70s-80s, in Memphis, Tennessee. They were honored to have received the detailing contract for Graceland in the early 80’s, they took much pride in caring for and detailing the plane, bus, and shuttle busses as well as making small repairs throughout the Graceland property. John loved his Honda 750 and owned one for many years. He rode funeral escort for several funeral homes in Memphis in the early 1980’s. He was proud to serve the families of lost loved ones and maintain the dignity of the dearly departed while working for N.J. Ford and Sons Funeral Home as well as Memphis Funeral Home in the late 1970’s. He was an attorney’s investigator for David Hooper attorney at law from late 1980’s-through the 1990’s. He did some work in bounty hunting during the 1990’s and even had some great stories about assisting law enforcement DEA with a couple of cases. John held positions in food and beverage over his lifetime at Sam’s Town Casino, Horseshoe Casino, Sheraton Casino, and The Grand Casino and Resort all located in Tunica, Mississippi, as well as Grisanti’s, in Memphis Tennessee. He also held positions at the Beau Rivage Casino and Resort, Grand Casino and Bombay Bicycle Club in Biloxi Mississippi. One thing that should be said about John is that he never lacked courage nor mental strength. He was a survivor and fought to overcome much adversity throughout his lifetime. Some in the Memphis area may remember a news story from the summer of 1995 that appeared on channel 13 news and in the Commercial Appeal. John and his colleague were detained in Juarez Mexico, on false charges. His wife Lesa, fought tirelessly to bring him home for 10 weeks. The day he came home, could only be described as miraculous and he gave the credit to Lesa, for staying loyal and fighting for him. John endured harsh conditions and much danger in Juarez, yet he remained courageous and overcame the detrimental experience. He was never ashamed to share his story and when he spoke of it, he often inspired others with his deep and unwavering faith. In June of 2002, John was brutally attacked in an act of workplace violence, which would go on to leave him with permanent brain trauma to his front temporal lobe, PTSD, and epilepsy. It changed many aspects of his personality, and greatly affected his health for quite some time. He used a power chair and had to wear a helmet for years. Through hard work such as swimming, pt, and brain games, he greatly improved in more recent years. There is no denying what a fighter he was, and how he never gave up. He didn’t have a quitting bone in his spirit. Even on the morning he passed, he fought profusely to stay. John was a proud son, husband, father and grandfather. The light of his life was his granddaughter Maddie whom he affectionately called “baby girl”. He never hesitated to catch a photo or video of her. He never missed a choir performance, dance recital, or event in her life. Even after Maddie moved to Texas, he would watch all of her performances through live video. John was a big part of all of her birthday parties, helping in any and every way from grilling to making handmade balloon arches out of PVC pipe. His innovative ability always shined through during a “Maddie Party.” John and his daughter, Sam had similar interests and very much enjoyed a competitive game of trivia or chess against each other. John and Sam were roller coaster and thrill ride buddies from day one. Though perhaps it could be said that their best times were out in the ocean swimming and being carried by the waves together. When Sam met her husband Brian, John instantly welcomed him in and felt extremely blessed to call him son. They shared and found common ground through comedy and humor and John always said that everything was more enjoyable and fun, when Brian was around. John cared for both of his parents during long illnesses until both of their passing. His mother, Gail was diagnosed with breast cancer in the early part of 1978. John and Lesa would be a big part of caring for her throughout her long illness and he was there in the very end after spending six days and nights, refusing to leave her hospital bedside. When his dad, Asa fell ill with cancer in 1996, John would make the long drive on weekends to Little Rock, Arkansas to be there for him. After a while he moved him in, so that he and Lesa could properly care for him. John poured a lot of care and love into ensuring he was comfortable and well taken care of. He learned how to care for his trach and all of his needs. He spent many hours with his dad watching football and reminiscing about “The Manhattan/Tradewind” days until his passing in October of 1998. John was preceded in death by his grandparents, Virginia and Claude Arnett, Parents Norma Gail Arnett Lewis and Asa A Lewis. SR, his little brother Asa A. Lewis, III, his mother-in-law, Lois Pace, and his brother-in-law Jimmy Hood. He is survived by his wife Lesa Lewis, Children Samantha and Brian Williams and granddaughter Madison “Maddie” Williams. The family would like to thank the many dear friends and loved ones for the outpouring of love and support. Friends can visit with the family on Friday, October 18th, 2024, from 6:30pm until the time of the Memorial Service at 7:00PM, with John’s daughter, Samantha Williams officiating at Pine Rest Funeral Home located at 16541 US-98, Foley, AL 36535. Services will conclude at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Lesa Lewis Widow Fund at PNC bank at (972) 705-8721.

Mr. John Dennis Lewis

June 22, 1959 - August 31, 2024