Lewis E. Harris

LEWIS EDWARD HARRIS was born on December 13th, 1939. He was raised by his mother, Mary Elizabeth Harris until her untimely passing, and was then raised by his grandmother, Cora Lee Caldwell-Adams in Winston Salem, NC. Lewis was educated in the Winston Salem public school system and then went on to study at the Winston Salem Teachers College. After 2 years he left college to work for the R J Reynolds Tobacco Company. During this time, Lewis married his first wife and was blessed with 5 children. After his divorce, Lewis moved to Baltimore, Maryland and worked and retired from Bethlehem Steel Shipyard in Sparrows Point.

Lewis became a long-time member of the Sharon Baptist Church and served as an usher under the leadership of Reverend James Moore. Lewis also joined the ELKSI.B.P.O.E. of the World and Held the office of financial secretary and was later voted in as Exalted Ruler of Monumental Lodge #3. Lewis was performed the Thanatopsis, a lengthy poem that the ELKS used to recite at the funeral of ELK members that passed. Lewis would walk around the entire perimeter of the church with the lights dimmed reciting the poem. It was truly awe-inspiring to see. Others performed this task but Lewis was the only member at the time that could recite that poem by heart and with such eloquence and conviction. During an ELK'S event, Lewis introduced himself to Delores Jordan. They started dating, got married and Lewis became the family patriarch. Lewis and Delores loved being members of the ELKS. They traveled by car to numerous states as far as California for the ELK'S conventions in his Monte Carlo that the family called the Green Hornet.

Lewis was such a happy and giving soul. His voice was loud and his laugh even louder. He was such a great husband and did everything he could for the entire family. He was big on Christmas and was famous for wrapping special gifts in a bag and then a box, then another box and then tape it with packing tape. It would take forever to open a giant box that turned out to be a pair of earrings. He got a big kick out of that. Lewis loved basketball and football and was famous for his macaroni and cheese on Sundays. He would make a big pan for the house and a smaller pan for his favorite neighbors. Ian, Sean, Mack and Brian, who practically adopted Lewis and Delores. They have been a God send, and Lewis's family is forever grateful to them.

Lewis also had a wonderful relationship with his son-in-law, Michael Carter. They hit it off from the time they met and became absolute best friends ever since. Other than his wife, Mike was Lewis's favorite person. Mike took such good care of Lewis; they watched so many sporting events together and Lewis never failed to have a household task for Mike to take on at his arrival.

Lewis is survived by his wife of 42 years. Venus Delores Harris; 5 children from a previous marriage, Antonio, Edward Lewis, Vincent, Lamont and Jeannetta Butler; 4 stepchildren, Eugene, Gwendolyn and April Jordan, Jonzetta Carter and son-in-law Michael Carter and a host of grandchildren, great and great-great grandchildren.

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