James Poet Lewis, Sr.

James Poet Lewis, Sr., 96, passed away early Thursday morning, June 20, 2013, at Hospice Home of Rockingham County in Wentworth, NC.

A graveside service will be held at 2 PM on Sunday, June 23, at the Lewis-Estes Family Cemetery in Cascade, VA.

Mr. Lewis was born August 9, 1916 in Pittsylvania County, Virginia; son of the late Jeremiah Lewis, Sr. and Bessie Ferguson Lewis. He was a World War II Army veteran and was of the Primitive Baptist faith. Mr. Lewis was the previous co-owner of Lewis Nursery.

He is survived by his sons, Ray Lewis and wife, Pam of Cascade, VA and James "Poet" Lewis, Jr. and wife, Sheila, of Danville, VA; five grandchildren, Travis Lewis, Brandi Lewis Sparks and husband, Jacob, Amelia Lewis Nelson and husband, Justin, Austin Lewis and Parker Lewis; four great-grandchildren, Levi and Leah Sparks and Addyson and Jeremiah Nelson; and sister, Ruby Dillon of Eden, NC.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by five brothers, Herbert, Herman, George, Jerry, Jr. and Jake Lewis; and two sisters, Virginia Spires and Jessie Carter.

The family will receive friends immediately following the graveside service at the cemetery and other times at the homes of his sons; Ray, at 2755 Huntington Trail in Cascade and Poet, at 4229 Stoney Mill Road in Danville.

For anyone wishing to make a memorial contribution, the family respectfully requests they be made to Hospice of Rockingham County, PO Box 281, Wentworth, NC 27375 or to Cascade Volunteer Fire Department, Cascade Road, Cascade, VA 24069.

Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.fairfuneralhome.com