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Baldwin-Lee Funeral Home
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Honoring a Fallen Hero, Who Served Within the Mississippi National Guard. “Fallen, Yet Not Forgotten”
In recognition of our proud American tradition of honorable service which our military men and women have given to their country and our State, we honor a Fallen Hero. Our nation, our state, and the National Guard Association of MS (NGAMS) regard the memorializing of its retired military deceased as an honorable and sacred obligation.
Another great Soldier and Fallen Hero has been released from duty, passed from our ranks on December 30, 2022, and has moved on to his heavenly home. 1SG(Ret) James Shirley Lewis, age 97, a retired member of the MS Army National Guard serving within the 890th Engineer Bn and working full-time at Shelby has departed and gone to a better place with our good Lord.
It takes a special person to serve within the military for their country, giving up their family time, comfort, and safety for their country, ultimately for all Americans to enjoy their freedoms, safety, and way of life. We now applaud you for your service to our country. A special message from General Douglas McArthur remains applicable today for our servicemen that have passed: “Old Soldiers never die; they just fade away”.
Rest in Peace Soldier. We applaud your patriotism and brave efforts in serving our country and your family for their support of your service. We thank you for your service. Without your efforts and your families’ support, our country would not stand so boldly, shine so bright and live so free.
You now have earned a rest, so go fly with the Angels, go rest high on that mountain; your work on earth is done. Go to heaven a-shoutin’ Love for the Father and the Son.
“Fallen, Yet Not Forgotten”
Obituary, visitation, and service details:
https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/pearl-ms/james-lewis-11088108
Graveside services will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 5, 2023, for James “Jay” Shirley Lewis, 97 of Petal, Mississippi at Green’s Creek Baptist Church Cemetery.
He died Sunday, January 1, 2023, in Hattiesburg, MS, which was 22 years to the day after he buried his precious Louise.
Mr. Lewis was retired from the US Army and retired from Camp Shelby after 32 years of service to the National Guard. He was a member of Green’s Creek Baptist Church.
Anyone that knew him either called him “Jay”, “Jimmy” or “Lewis” depending on which stage of his life you met him. Everyone that spent time with him knew that he loved Barq’s Root Beers in the glass bottles, snickers and victrolas. He loved to tell stories of his boyhood growing up in Hattiesburg and working at his dad’s gas stations.
He was predeceased in death by his wife, Louise Fairley Lewis; his parents, B.C. Sr. and Lula Short Lewis; one brother B.C. Lewis, Jr., one sister, Maurice Tilghman and one grandson, Lamar Shepherd.
He is survived by two daughters, Shirley Lewis Anderson (James) and Rhonda Shepherd; two sons, Richie Lewis (Tracy) and Bill Dunn; three sisters, Carol Brock, Mary Katherine Lee, and Valerie “Pete” Moore; 9 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren.
A “Root Beer Social” will be held immediately following the graveside service in the church fellowship hall until 6:00 p.m. Friends and family are invited to come and go even if they cannot attend the graveside service.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Green’s Creek Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, 711 Old Richton Road, Petal, MS 39465
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.baldwinleepearl.com for the Lewis family.