Obituary of Ernest W Lewis, I

Reverend Ernest Wayne Lewis I was born on June 4, 1948, in New York City, to the late Sam Bernard Lewis, and Ernestine Lewis, and entered into his rest on Thursday, December 6, 2012. Ernest was educated in the New York City public school system. He was further educated at the following Colleges and Universities: Bronx Community College, Bronx N. Y., La Guardia Community College, Long Island City, Queens, The College of Human Resources and Human Services, New York City, N. Y., and Hampton University, Hampton, VA. He later joined the United States Army where he served his country and was honorably discharged June 12, 1973. He was then employed as a Client Liaison for the Bronx and the Queens Children's Psychiatric Center, and subsequently with the Department of Employment, The OJ Limousine and Car Service, and The NYC Health and Hospital Cooperation. Early in life Ernest had a love for the Lord that he learned through the teachings of his mother, Ernestine and Aunt Josie and Uncle Louie (the late Evangelist Josephine P. Flores and Ramon Louis Flores). He recognized and answered his call to the ministry in 1985, and shortly after, pursued and obtained his licensed to preach in 1986. He was associated with Rev. Fletcher Crawford senior, some 40 plus years. He was ordained on August 17, 1997 at the Union Grove Baptist Church by Rev. Fletcher Crawford and Rev. Frederick Crawford. During his tenure at Union Grove, he was diligently involved in the following ministries: The Male Chorus (Member and President), Sunday School Teacher, Acting Superintendent, Church Photographer, Junior Deacon, Transportation Ministry/Driver, and Church Custodian. The Lord called Rev. Lewis later to expand his gifts for use in following ministries : The Family Baptist Church, Bronx, New York, N.Y. (Rev. Robert Washington, Pastor); Friendship Baptist Church, Mt. Vernon N.Y. (Rev. Joe Brown, former Pastor); New Tabernacle Baptist Church, Bronx, N.Y.(Rev. James Staggers, Pastor); First Calvary Baptist Church, N.Y., N.Y (Rev. Fletcher Crawford, Pastor); Grace Temple Baptist Church (former Pastor Rev. and Theodore Edmunds, Present Pastor Rev. Reggie Johnson). He also served in the following ministries: Vacation Bible School (Director, Sunday School Teacher, Bible Study Teacher), God's Mighty Men's Ministry (Director of Praise and Worship and Teacher); Music Committee(President); Male Chorus (Secretary, Inspirational and Celestial Choir), Nursing Home Communion Ministry (Spiritual Advisor to the Sick & Shut-In). Rev. Lewis spent the last 6 years serving the Lord in the ministry staff at Christ Care Unit Missionary Baptist Church under the Pastor-ship of Rev. Dr. Robert F. Hargrove, Sr., founder and Sr. Pastor, where he has counseled, preached, taught, and witnessed to God's people. He spent many hours evangelizing to a dying generation about the total love and concern of Jesus Christ for his people. Rev. Lewis loved the Lord and lived what he preached. He preached Christ wherever he went and with whom he was with. He put feet to his faith and lived out the words that Jesus taught in Matthew 10:8 "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give." And now the Lord has called him home and welcomed him saying, "Well done thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter into the joy of thy Lord." Matthew 25:21 In the later years of his life, God truly sent to him the love of his life where he met and married Lydia Mae of Williamstown, New Jersey. Although their time was brief, the quality of their love shared was beyond measure. He leaves to cherish his memories: his beloved Wife, Lydia;Brother's: Claude Pearson, Atlanta, GA Walter Lee (preceded him in death); Sisters: Brenda Ray (Ronald Ray) Romulus, MI; Lucy Flores Myers, Philadelphia, PA; Patsy Johnson, Shirley (Cedrick) Trotter, and Bernice Robinson, of Atlanta, GA; Son's: Marcus Wayne Lewis, Lindenwold, NJ, Erick Wayne Lewis, and Ernest Wayne Lewis II, NY, NY, Leon Bernard Howard, jr. ; Daughters: Leona Brenda Brown, and Lynette Belinda Howard (preceded him in death); Grandchildren: Jaylen Wayne Lewis, Marcus Wayne Lewis, Keyshawn David Lewis, Keelin Wayne Lewis, LaToya Hansbury, Kenney Wayne Faulkner, Lamont Howard, and DeAnna Chalynn Lewis (preceded him in death); Aunts: Hattie, (Gaylord) Johnson, Texas and Edith Hubbard, NY, NY; And a host of nieces, nephews, family, and friends.