Pastor Arnold J. Lewis

“AND WE KNOW THAT ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD TO THOSE WHO LOVE GOD, TO THOSE WHO ARE THE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE.” ROMANS 8:28 NKJV

ARNOLD JAMES LEWIS MADE HIS GRAND ENTRANCE ON DECEMBER 18, 1928. HE ATTENDED CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND AT THE TENDER AGE OF 17 HE ENLISTED IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY. HE SERVED FOR 22 YEARS AND RETIRED TO THEN BECOME A JUNIOR RESERVE OFFICER TRAINING CORPS INSTRUCTOR. HE SERVED AS A JROTC INSTRUCTOR AT CHICAGO VOCATIONAL SCHOOL, AUSTIN HIGH SCHOOL, HYDE PARK, SOUTH SHORE, AND DUSABLE. HE WAS ALSO A JROTC INSTRUCTOR AT THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE HIGH SCHOOLS IN MUNICH AND STUTTGART GERMANY. HIS TENURE AS AN JROTC INSTRUCTOR SPANNED OVER A 30+ YEAR PERIOD. WHILE SERVING IN THIS ROLE HE CONTINUED HIS EDUCATION AND EARNED HIS ASSOCIATES IN APPLIED SCIENCE ACCOUNTING WITH THE LOOP COLLEGE, HIS BACHELOR OF ARTS AT GOVERNORS STATE UNIVERSITY,  BECAME AN ORDAINED MINISTER AT LIVING HOPE BAPTIST CHURCH, EARNED HIS CREDENTIALS AND COMPLETED THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SCOFIELD BIBLE DOCTRINE WITH MOODY BIBLE INSTITUTE.

HE WAS A “JACK OF ALL TRADES” HE COACHED THE DRILL TEAM, RIFLE TEAM, AND TRACK TEAM AT VARIOUS SCHOOLS. HE WAS ALSO THE MANAGER OF THE WRESTLING TEAM. HE WAS ALSO THE LOCAL DISK JOCKEY PLAYING GOSPEL MUSIC, HE HAD NO BOUNDARIES. HIS WORK ETHIC WAS UNDENIABLE AND INCOMPARABLE AFTER RETIRING FROM ACTIVE DUTY AND CIVIL SERVICE HE STARTED WORKING AT THE LOCAL WALMART FOR OVER 10 YEARS AND THROUGH THAT HE MET AND CONTINUED TO TOUCH THE LIVES OF MANY. HIS QUIET BUT STEARN DEMEANOR AND HIS WISDOM COMBINED WITH HIS INFECTIOUS SMILE AND REMARKABLE SENSE OF HUMOR ALWAYS BRIGHTENED THE DAY AND LIVES OF SO MANY. HE WAS A HUGE ADVOCATE OF MINISTRY WORK AND NOT ONLY DID HE TALK THE TALK BUT WALKED THE WALK BY SERVING AS THE CHAPLAIN OF THE COOK COUNTY JAIL IN CHICAGO.

OF ALL OF HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS HIS BIGGEST WAS MEETING AND MARRYING THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE RUTH LEWIS. EVERYONE WHO KNEW HIM KNEW THAT HE HAD AN UNDYING AND UNWAVERING LOVE FOR HIS WIFE. THIS UNION RESULTED IN A BEAUTIFUL BLENDED FAMILY. HE LOVED HIS FAMILY AND OFTEN OFFICIATED OVER FAMILY OCCASIONS SUCH AS WEDDINGS, FUNERALS, AND BAPTISMS AND WAS ALWAYS AVAILABLE FOR HIS FAMILY WHOM HE LOVED VERY MUCH. HE LOVED TO TRAVEL AND MEET NEW PEOPLE AND ALWAYS HAD THE ABILITY TO BE RELATABLE TO OTHERS. HE HAD A PASSION AND ZEAL FOR TEACHING AND REACHING OTHERS. HE HAD THE ABILITY TO TEACH OTHERS ABOUT THE WORD OF GOD WITH CLARITY AND SIMPLICITY SO THAT ALL COULD UNDERSTAND. REGARDLESS OF TITLE OR STATUS…HE LOVED THEM ALL.  HE ATTENDED MT. OLIVE BAPTIST CHURCH AND ALSO SERVED AS ASSISTANT PASTOR COORDINATING PRAYER MEETINGS, SUNDAY SCHOOL AND BIBLE STUDY.  HE SPREAD THE WORD OF GOD THROUGH HIS “FACEBOOK LIVE” AND “YOUTUBE” VIDEOS. HE WAS AFFECTIONATELY CALLED “PAPA ARNOLD”, “PAPA LEWIS” “SARGE”, AND “DADDY LEWIS”. HE HAS BUILT AN INCOMPARABLE LEGACY THAT WILL FOREVER BE UNMATCHED.

HE WAS PRECEDED IN DEATH BY HIS MOTHER VALETTE LEWIS, BROTHERS JOSEPH, MASON, AND GEORGE LEWIS, AND HIS SISTERS MAYOLA MCINTYRE, CAROLYN DAVIS.

HE LEAVES BEHIND HIS WIFE RUTH LEWIS, HIS SONS WESLEY LEWIS (BEATE), ROBERT STEPHENS (ESTELLA), ANDR’E STEPHENS (TERRI), ANTHONY STEPHENS (RETONIA) CRAIG STEPHENS (LESLIE), HIS DAUGHTERS BRENDA BROWN, FAITH LEWIS GETTY (NATHAN) AND CHRISTINA LEWIS. HIS SISTERS MARGERET PRITCHETT, MARIYLN DAVIS, GWENDOLYN LEWIS, ELIZABETH KILBURN, AND BROTHER RAYMOND LEWIS. HE ALSO LEAVES BEHIND HIS 18 GRANDCHILDREN, 10 GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN, AND A HOST OF NIECES, NEPHEWS, COUSINS, EXTENDED FAMILY, AND CLOSE FRIENDS.

SERVICES ARE UNDER THE DIRECTION OF MITCHELL FUNERAL HOME IN ARKADELPHIA, AR. VISITATION WILL BE THURSDAY, MAY 20, 2021 AT MITCHELL FUNERAL HOME FROM 12 NOON-4:00 P.M. WITH FAMILY HOUR AT MT. OLIVE BAPTIST CHURCH IN ARKADELPHIA, AR WHERE REV. LLEWELLYN E. TERRY, SR. IS PASTOR FROM 6:00 P.M.-7:00 P.M. FUNERAL SERVICES WILL BE AT MT. OLIVE BAPTIST CHURCH ON FRIDAY, MAY 21, 2021 AT 9:00 A.M. WITH PASTOR TERRY SERVING AS EULOGIST. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Pastor Arnold J. Lewis, please visit our floral store.