Earl Ralls Lewis

Funeral service for Coach Earl Ralls Lewis, 87, will be Thursday, November 20, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at Curtis and Son Funeral Home, North Chapel in Sylacauga with Rev. Billy Coleman officiating. Visitation will be Wednesday, November 19, 2025, from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. at Curtis and Son Funeral Home, North Chapel. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery in Sylacauga, AL.

Coach Lewis died Sunday, November 16, 2025 at his residence. He was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years and love of his life, Willa Dean Melton Lewis, and parents, E.V. and Lucille Lewis.

Earl Ralls Lewis was born in Dover, Tennessee on October 31, 1938 to the late E.V. and Lucille Lewis. He graduated from Sylacauga High School in 1956 and received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Education in 1962 from Livingston State College (now The University of West Alabama). In 1974, he received his Master of Education Degree in Driver Education and Traffic Safety from the University of Montevallo. He also attended Jacksonville State University and the University of Alabama.

Coach Lewis began his career in sports as the Athletic Director for the Sylacauga Recreation Department, where he served from 1962 to 1967. In 1965, he was hired as a coach and teacher for Sylacauga City Schools and retired in 1996. He coached football, track, basketball, cross country, and swimming at various times during his tenure with the school system.

Following his retirement from education, Coach Lewis became the director of The Care House of Sylacauga in 1997. He worked in that capacity for 25 years until his health required him to step back. His love of Sylacauga and his servant’s heart were clearly shown in his role as director, as he touched the lives of countless people who had fallen on hard times.

Coach Lewis was well known for his writing – particularly writing about sports. He served as a sportswriter for several newspapers over the course of his life. He was the Co-Editor of The Alabama Recreation Society News from 1964 to 1966, and authored two books - “Images of America – Sylacauga,” and “Sylacauga History in Vintage Postcards.”

Coach was very active with service and social organizations for many years, with the Sylacauga Kiwanis Club being one of his main priorities. His membership began in 1978 and he was a faithful attendee for 50 years. He served as President in 1988-89 and again in 1992-93. He was selected as Kiwanian of the Year in 1989-90, and 1995-96, was the Recipient of Kiwanis International George F. Hixson Fellow Award in 2002, and received an award for 28 years of Perfect Attendance. He also served as president of the Sylacauga Historical Society, was a member of The Sylacauga Beautification Council, president of the Sylacauga High ‘S’ Club Alumni Association, and was the sponsor of The Fellowship of Christian Athletes for 28 years.

The honors and awards he received during his time in Sylacauga are countless. As a teenager, he was a member of the Alabama State 2-A Football Championship team, the Sylacauga Aggies, in 1954. In 1964, he received the District Scouter Award for his membership contributions as a Scouter and Scoutmaster. Also, in 1964, he was presented with the American Red Cross Humanitarian Award for five years of volunteer service in First Aid and Water Safety. In 1966, he was recognized as Sylacauga’s “Young Man of the Year” by the Sylacauga Jaycees. In his capacity as a coach, he was an Assistant Coach of the Alabama State 3-A Football Champions in1969, was a five time recipient of the Talladega County “Track Coach of the Year” award in the1970’s, was Head Coach of the Alabama State Indoor Track Champions in 1973, Secretary of the Talladega County Coaches Association in 1973, selected by the Jaycees as Sylacauga’s Physical Fitness Leader Of The Year in 1986, and 1997-98, was an Alabama “Secondary Teacher of the Year” Nominee in 1995 and 96. In 2020, Coach Lewis was honored with the “Heart of An Eagle” Award, presented by the Cheaha District of the Greater Alabama Council of the Boy Scouts of America. In 2025, the Sylacauga High School S-Club Alumni Association created an annual scholarship, the Coach Earl Lewis S-Club Alumni Scholarship, to honor his many years of service to Sylacauga High School.

Coach Lewis loved attending Alabama Crimson Tide football games, traveling with his beloved Willa Dean, woodworking, reading, writing, and being surrounded by family and friends. He was a member of Cornerstone Global Methodist Church in Alexander City, AL. Survivors include daughter Robin Lewis, son Stephen E. Lewis and wife Charmelle, and granddaughter Rebekah Barnett and husband, Joe.

Pallbearers will be Tim Allen, Kerry Clisby, Rick Morris, Donnie Price, Chad Reams, Sam Russell, Rod Stallworth, and Jeff Vick. Honorary pallbearers will be John Blackmon, Russ Grant, Joe Harris, David Irby, Ray “Eel” McDiarmid, Nick Menzies, and Buddy Simpkins.

The family would like for any 'S' Club Alumni, former athletes, Kiwanians, and any close friends to sit as a group with the honorary pallbearers.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to his caregivers for their compassion, kindness, and extraordinary care during his final weeks: Kay Bivin, who was by his side for almost two years, Angel Crawford, Donna Duncan, Katie Nelson, Madilynn Albright, and Kim Yoder. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Cornerstone First Global Methodist Church in Alexander City, Care House of Sylacauga, or the Coach Earl Lewis S-Club Alumni Scholarship fund.