James Bernard Lewis

Rev. James "Jim" Bernard Lewis, was born at home, 2501 Dumesnil Str., in Louisville, KY October 15, 1924 to Bernard and Myrtle Demaree Pulliam Lewis, who were originally from Shelby County, KY. Sister Edith Elaine Pulliam Bott and brother Robert William, who, along with his parents and sister completed life’s journey many years ago.

James and Eleanor Alois Gray, beloved wife of nearly 72 years were teenage sweethearts. Alois sent him off to the US Navy to serve at Pearl Harbor from 1943 - 46, during WWII. Their journey as husband and wife began at her home church, Ormsby Avenue Baptist Church, on her twentieth birthday, November 15, 1945. Three children were blessed this union: Kathy Lynn Springs (Lance) of Louisville, KY; James Barry (Cliff Goulet) of Lake Worth, FL and New York; and Peter Gray (Sook Jin Jo) of Los Angeles and New York. Jim and Alois adored their two grandchildren, Jason Andrew Springs (Atalia Omer), and Amanda Springs Langlands (Bryan) who were also the source of their five wonderful great-grandchildren; Yonatan Daniele and Pnei’el Alois Omer Springs, and Ava Reese, Vivienne Jane and Hazel Hadley Langlands.

Jim graduated from Louisville Male High in 1943 while Alois graduated from Shawnee Girl’s High. In the early years of marriage Jim worked as an auto mechanic in his father’s business while Alois continued her employment with the L&N Railroad. The focus of their wonderful lives together was family life, church, and work. Their pursuit of higher education, first at Georgetown College, 1948 -51, then at Southern Baptist Seminary, 1951 - 56, which prepared him for the ministry. For over forty years they served as pastor of five Baptist churches: Clark’s Creek near Dry Ridge, KY; Ormsby Avenue Baptist Church in Louisville; First Baptist Church, Corbin, KY; Rockford Lane Baptist Church, Louisville; and Westport Road Baptist Church in Louisville. He spent 21 years as pastor at Westport Road and the church honored him as pastor emeritus after retirement.

Through the year Jim and Alois invested time and energy in caring for others, both in churches served and in the community where they lived. In the process Jim took part with many Baptist churches throughout Kentucky in their efforts to remind others of God’s love for all and God’s desire to help all in their life’s journey. There was also extensive involvement in community life as well in local and state Baptist organizations. In addition to serving as “anchor” of the family, Alois invested endless hours serving in PTA organizations and youth support groups.

As Jim and Alois pursued their call to minister, they had the good fortune of encountering and being blessed by individuals, both men and women, from many walks of life who were living examples of what it means to “Know God, Love Him and walk with Him.”

Along the way, Jim had the privilege of serving as President of the Kentucky Baptist Convention as well as president and co-founder of Baptist Homes, Incorporated. He was one of the founders and trustee in the development of the Baptist Seminary of Kentucky. He served as visiting professor of Church Life at Simmons University.

As a member of Long Run Association of Churches, he served as moderator and a member of the executive board as well as president of the Pastor’s Conference. For 30 years he served as a field work supervisor to future pastors at Southern Baptist Seminary.

Jim invested years as a volunteer chaplain for the Jefferson County Police Department and was elected chaplain and president of the Thruston Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution.

He received an honorary Doctorate from Georgetown College and was welcomed into the Louisville Male High Hall of Fame. His appreciation for those who minister to the ill and eddying was greatly enhanced while serving as a long time trustee of the Kentucky Baptist Hospital Association.

Retiring from pastoral ministries at the end of 1989, he was elected to serve as president of Baptist Homes, Incorporated, a senior care facility that he helped established in 1967. He continued to serve in that capacity until his death.

Jim and Alois attended Walnut Street Baptist Church after their retirement where he taught the Agape Sunday School class for nearly twenty years. They returned to Westport Road Baptist Church where the congregation warmly welcomed their return.

Jim was forever amazed by the thought that God loved him and saw fit not only to allow him to minister in His Name, but to bless his life with wonderful parents, a long and faithful wife, caring children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. All were precious to him and dear to his heart. And of course there was the extended family who, like his dear ones, joined him in life’s journey of faith.

He was convinced that we are all special and loved by our creator God, who through Jesus, wants to help us have a meaningful and productive life as we live out our days on Planet Earth. He looked forward to being in Eternity with those who were always there for him.

A Celebration of Rev. Lewis's life will be held at 11:00 AM Monday, October 16th, at Westport Road Baptist Church, 9705 Westport Road, Louisville, KY. There will be a visitation at the church on Sunday, 5 to 8 PM.