Leon Eugene Lewis Jr.

Leon Eugene Lewis, Jr. passed away on Friday, January 3, 2014. A visitation will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Jackson on Sunday, January 5, 2014, from 1:30 to 4:00 p.m. and Monday, January 6, 2014, at 10:00 a.m, with a funeral at the church at 11:00 Monday.

Leon was born on February 3, 1931, to Leon Eugene and Irene Cannada Lewis. He was raised in Port Gibson, Mississippi, and graduated from Port Gibson High School in 1948. He graduated from the University of Mississippi in 1952. While at Ole Miss, he was a member of the Kappa Alpha Order, serving as President, and was elected to the Ole Miss Hall of Fame. After graduation, he served in the United States Air Force for two years. Following his military service, he spent two years in the Merrill Lynch Special Training program in New York City, and then worked at Merrill Lynch in Jackson for 41 years. After his retirement from Merrill Lynch, he served as a director of the Gertrude C. Ford Foundation until his death. Leon was a long-time member of First Presbyterian Church of Jackson, where he served as a Ruling Elder and Deacon.

Leon was predeceased by his parents, his sister, Carmen, and his wife, Jane Riddell Lewis. He is survived by his sons: John Cannada Lewis, of Jackson, and his wife, Helen Turman Lewis; James Riddell Lewis, of Tupelo, and his wife, Traci Pounders Lewis; and a daughter, Elizabeth (Beth) Lewis Threadgill, of Jackson, and her husband, Timothy Meade Threadgill. He is also survived by eight grandchildren: Cannada Andrew Lewis, and his wife Marjorie Lee Lewis, of Christiansburg, Virginia; John Watson Lewis, of Jackson; Peyton Elysabeth Lewis, Carmen Sydni Lewis and James Riddell Lewis II, all of Tupelo; and Brittany Meade Threadgill, Burney Lewis Threadgill and James Cannada Threadgill, all of Jackson.

Memorials may be sent to First Presbyterian Church; 1390 North State Street; Jackson, Mississippi 39202.