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Joe Lewis
FRESNO, Calif. — Joe Ollin Lewis, formerly of Birmingham, Alabama, and Georgetown, Kentucky, died at his home in Fresno on Aug. 30, 2023, at the age of 87. He was the loving husband of Shirley (Robinson) Lewis and the father of sons, Paul and Page Lewis.
Joe was born on Oct. 5, 1935, in Waco, Texas, to Ollin Baker Lewis and Juanita Cooper Lewis. He married Shirley Ann Pigg Lewis on May 23, 1959.
Joe attended Charleston High School in Charleston, Missouri, and earned his B.S. degree from Southeast Missouri State University in 1957. He earned his Ph.D. from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1965. Postgraduate studies took him to Tel Aviv University, and Harvard University. An ordained minister, he spent the bulk of this career in Baptist higher education. At Cumberland College (Kentucky), he was assistant professor of Religion. At Georgetown College (Kentucky), he taught Old Testament, chaired the religion department, and served as Vice President for Academic Affairs. He began at Samford University (Alabama) as Associate Provost and retired as Provost Emeritus in 2002. Following retirement he served as a consultant assisting universities and churches in accreditation, administration and policy issues.
In addition to his educational career, Joe pastored churches in Missouri, Indiana, and Kentucky while in school, and he served as interim pastor twice while on staff at Georgetown. In retirement, he served as Interim Associate Pastor at Brookwood Baptist Church in Birmingham, and as Teacher in Residence at Mountain Brook Baptist Church, also in Birmingham.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents, and his first wife, Shirley Ann (Pigg) Lewis (d. 2015), mother of his sons, Paul and Page. He is survived by his second wife, Shirley (Robinson) Lewis of Fresno, his sons Paul (Louise) Lewis of Storrs, Connecticut, and Page (Tracey) Lewis of Paris, Ky. He was the grandfather of four: Autumn (Andrew) Belcher, Benjamin (Caroline) Lewis, Logan Lewis, and Emma (Kevin) Cantrell. He was the great grandfather of Clarke and Cliff Belcher; Annie and Bates Lewis; and Jeremiah Cantrell. He was also much loved by stepsons Chris (Karen) Robinson, Eric (Lucy) Robinson, and Tim (Gary) Robinson, and their children.
A graveside service is scheduled for Georgetown Cemetery in Georgetown, Kentucky, at 11:30 am. on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. Rev. Carolyn Hale Cubbedge and Dr. Robert G. Baker will officiate at the service.
Johnson’s Funeral Home of Georgetown is serving the family. www.johnsonsfuneralhome.com
Memorial gifts may be made to Georgetown College, Samford University or a charity of your choice.