Johnny Lewis

Johnny was educated in the Detroit Public School system and graduated from Martin Luther King Jr, High School in 1973. Although he had dreams of becoming a dentist, after high school Johnny briefly worked at General Motors.

Johnny met and fell in love with Sandra “Sandy” Davis in High School. The two being a clever pair, decided to make their High School trip to Spain even more memorable by secretly marrying before they left for the trip, making it their Honeymoon. But not quite ready to reveal their secret, upon returning, they continued to live with their parents for another year. On June 15, 1974 (The first marriage taking place on June 13, 1973), they wed again, this time in front of family and friends. In the early years of their marriage, Johnny accompanied his wife and kids to church and accepted Christ as his savior. This union, blessed with four children, lovingly carried on for the next 47 years.

In the early 1990’s Johnny retired from the City of Detroit Waste-Water Treatment Plant and drove a taxi cab for many years and also played personal taxi for his children for many more years.

In the summer of 2016, Johnny and Sandy, along with their youngest daughter and her family, moved from Redford, Michigan to Arizona to be closer to his other children and family members.

Johnny, as well as his wife Sandy, had a big heart. Upon his sister’s untimely death, which left her 4 youngest children, one still in diapers, without a parent to care for them, he and Sandy immediately took them in, loving and caring for them as though they were their own. Although 3 of the children were only with them for a brief time, one niece lived with them for several years and even grew to call him “Dad”. Over the years, there were also other nephews, nieces, and even visitors' children that were left in their care, that they selflessly watched over until other arrangements could be made. In later years, Johnny also became caregiver to Gene, a blind man and his girlfriend, both riddled with numerous health problems. Johnny’s dedication to them was evident. When informing Gene of his move to Arizona, Gene decided to follow his caregiver, and the relationship continued until Gene’s death in 2018.

Johnny was very personable. He could meet a stranger and talk with them as though they were old friends. He enjoyed many hobbies which included; crossword puzzles, sudoku, word games on his phone, collecting wrist watches, spending time with his “grandbabies” and watching TV on his phone wherever he went, which did draw some complaints during our frequent family gatherings, but that was our Johnny. We knew we could always find him in a quiet room with his phone, watching TV.

Johnny departed this life on February 24, 2021 in San Tan Valley, Arizona. He was preceded in death by his father, Charles; his mother, Caroline; his brothers Eddie and Otis; and his sister Alice. Johnny’s life will be forever cherished by his wife, Sandy; his children Verdell, Star (Ron), Diamond (Max), Johnny, China (Billy), his niece Tiffani, who he helped raise; his grandchildren, Tenae, Joshua, Kynadi, David, Julian, Wyatt, and Leo; his brothers Michael and Floyd; and a host of other family and friends.