Lendy M. Lewis

THE OBITURY “I will lift mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1-2 On Saturday, October 1, 2016 at her Jacksonville home, our Savior reached out His hand with a finger of love and touched the brow of our loved one, Lendy M. Lewis and took her to His Heavenly Home. She was born on January 18, 1933, to the late Saul and Truelove Neal of Wisner, Louisiana. Lendy began her Christian journey at the New Light Baptist Church, in Wisner, where her father was a Deacon and her mother was The Mother of the church. Lendy was united in matrimony to the late Robert L. Lewis on August 28, 1958 at her mother’s home in Wisner, La. To this union they had five sons and three daughters. Lendy’s formal education began in Franklin Parish, La. where she attended Wisner-Gilbert High School. She continued her education at Grambling University receiving a Teaching degree. Being the part of a military family, she continued her education through other colleges at her husband’s various military assignments, including UALR here in Arkansas. In dedicated service to our country, they travel extensively, here in the United States and abroad in Germany. Lendy began teaching in Almta elementary school near Plattsburg Air Force Base, NY. As her husband was reassigned she taught at the Nathan Twining Elementary School, Grand Forks Air Force Base, ND, she substituted and taught DOD Elementary Schools at Rhein Main Air Force Base, Germany and here at the Pinewood Elementary School, Jacksonville, AR for approximately 25 years. This was at least if not more than 40 - 45 years of teaching. Over the years, Lendy acquired and perfected her God given talent. The talent she was gifted to share with others all the days of her life was teaching. She shared this with prayer, faith and love to all. She took her kind, soft spoken mannerism to everything she did. Lendy was an active Christian throughout her life. Lendy served as a Ministers Wife from the 60's when her husband Robert was licensed as a minister in the Southern Baptist Church in Grand Forks North Dakota under the pastorate of Reverend Doug Hughes. and was ordained in Rhein Main, Germany, under Pastor Emerson. She supported her husband in duties of Chaplain/Pastor of one of the base services in Rhein Main and as Assistant Pastor of Mount Pisgah Baptist Church. She also worked with the Children’s Church and the vacation bible school, which was renamed the RL Lewis Bible Institute and she was appointed the Director. Like her mother before her, she was named and appointed as one of our first three Mothers of Mount Pisgah Baptist Church. While devoted as a wife of a United States service leader, Lendy also support her husband who was elected to the Jacksonville City Board of Aldermen in which he served continuously for 24 years. The bridge over the railroad tracks at the west end of Main Street in Jacksonville, AR in named in his honor. Cherishing her memory are her children Gregory, Keith, Steven, Gerald, Pamela, Timothy, Brandi, her 37 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren; her brothers Walter Neal and Jesse Neal as well as nieces, nephews and other family members, colleagues, Mount Pisgah Baptist Church family and friends. The circle is not broken for she went home to join her loving husband Reverend Robert L. Lewis; her daughter, Christine; father Saul Neal; mother Truelove Neal; siblings: Saul Jr, Emma, Ethel, Mertis, Janie, David, Joseph, Jake Neal, Kaylora Bingham, and a heavenly host of family and friends. There will be a viewing service with scripture and prayer from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Mount Pisgah Baptist Church. Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Mt Pisgah Baptist Church 1017 Ray Rd Jacksonville, Arkansas. Burial to follow at Rest Hills Memorial Park Cemetery. The repass will be at the Curtis Green Community Life Center across the street from MPBC 1017 Ray Rd Jacksonville, Arkansas. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Mount Pisgah Baptist Church, Youth Department, 1017 Ray Road, Jacksonville, Ark. 72076.