| The
Lewis Family America's First Family of Bluegrass Gospel Music |
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| The
Lewis Family America's First Family of Bluegrass Gospel Music |
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Roy 'Pop' Lewis
Roy “Pop” Lewis passed away on Tuesday, March 23, 2004, at Wills Memorial Hospital in Washington, GA, around 12:10 PM (EST). He was 98 years old. Visitation was held 6:00 to 9:00 PM (EST) on Wednesday, March 24th at the Rees Funeral Home, 195 Peachtree Street, Lincolnton, GA. The funeral was 4:00 PM (EST) on Thursday, March 25th at Hephzibah Baptist Church in Lincolnton, GA. Memorials may be made to any of the following: The Lewis Family Pavilion Fund Hephzibah Baptist Church Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame Born September 22, 1905, in Pickens, SC, Pop was one of ten children. His family moved to Lincolnton, GA, when he was only five years old. On October 25, 1925, Pop (who was "Roy" then) eloped with Mom (who was Pauline Holloway). They had eight children, seven of whom survive them. After 77 years of marriage, Pop lost his wife on February 8, 2003, when Mom Lewis passed away. Pop was honored during his career with the Lifetime Achievement Award from SGN Scoops magazine and induction into the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame. Pop received the Distinguished Achievement Award by the International Bluegrass Music Association in 2001. He was the subject of a portrait the Southern Gospel Music Association commissioned in 2001, which featured Pop as the patriarch of four generations of gospel music artists. Pop and Mom Lewis began a family that has become known worldwide for their bluegrass gospel music during the last 54 years. Pop endeared himself to his many fans with his friendliness, humor, and down-home ways. He is best remembered for the song "Just One Rose Will Do." Pop made only a few special appearances during the last few years as he battled health problems, but his heart was with his family as they traveled to sing. Please remember the Lewis Family in your prayers during this time of loss. Obituary in the Augusta Chronicle Article by Don Rhodes (Augusta Chronicle) |
The Lewis Family appreciates everyone's prayers. If you'd like to send a card of sympathy: The Lewis Family
Pictures of flowers at the funeral by Pop's grandson Stan Lewis
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Memorial by Edward McCurry from The Lincoln Journal (Lincolnton, GA), September 23, 2004
Pop Lewis, on his 97th birthday on September 22, 2002. All his children, and most of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren attended his party. Photo by the Lincoln Journal. Click here to see a video clip of Pop singing 'The Gloryland Way' on May 3, 2001 at the Lewis Family Homecoming. |
Our daddy, Roy "Pop" Lewis, was born September 22, 1905, in Pickens, SC, one of ten children. His family moved to Lincolnton, GA, when he was five years old. At the age of twenty, he fell in love with a neighbor's daughter. They eloped and married on October 25, 1925. They had eight children. (Our brother, Mosley, died when he was four years old) We
were fortunate that Mom and Pop were always there for us. So many memories come to
my mind. I can remember when meal times came around, Pop would ask the blessing and
all seven children, Pop and Mom sat and ate together.  It was a closeness
I'll never forget. They always loved Gospel Music, and instilled in us that love
which we've passed on to our children, the third generation, and I'm thankful that it's
being passed on to the fourth generation as well.
When
we were growing up, Mom and Pop always taught us to 'save your money' 'owe no one' and
'don't buy anything you can't pay for'. This was good advice and something we'll
never forget. They had lived through the 'great depression' and they knew what they
were talking about and could tell us children. Pop helped build most of our homes
after helping us secure land on which we built our homes to raise our families.
Pop
is probably the oldest singer traveling more than 100,000 miles each year, and he's always
featured on each program. The Lewis Family began recording in the early '50's, but
it was around 1964 when we started traveling full time.
I've
often said that we are like children that never left home. We have been blessed to
be able to travel with Mom and Pop for all these years.
Pop
is a remarkable person. I think anyone that was born in the beginning of the century
and lived long enough to see the coming of a new century, has been truly blessed.
He's seen many hard times and many good times. The good times have certainly
outweighed the bad. God has richly blessed us all for which we're thankful.
It's been a wonderful journey.
The above article was taken from Karen Peck Gooch's 'Mother Moments' column in the Singing News (June 1999) with information from Polly Copsey, used courtesy of Danny Jones and the Singing News. |
Thanks to David & Gwile Freeman for these pictures.
©2007 The Lewis Family
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