On August 27, 2021, God extended his hands to welcome Bernard Lee Lewis, affectionately called “Man”, into the peaceful gates of Heaven and said, “Well done my good and faithful servant”. Bernard was born April 11, 1941 to the late Samuel and Elizabeth Jones Lewis.

Bernard was educated in Hanover Public Schools and graduated from John M. Gandy High School in 1958. At an early age, he accepted Christ and was baptized at the Brown Grove Baptist Church in Ashland. To have known him is to know that he LOVED to sing. Throughout the years, he has been an active part of the music ministry at Brown Grove and in community choirs to include The Williamette Singers, United Saints in Praise, Brown Grove’s Sanctuary Choir, the Male Chorus and his most beloved Rainey Memorial Gospel Chorus. He also sang in the Richmond based Celebration Male Chorus. During his time as Brown Grove, he has served as a Trustee and as Church Moderator.

Bernard earned his living as a bricklayer. In the 1970’s, he founded Springfield Construction with his friend, the late Horace Lewis, Sr. Over the decades, he employed many family members and friends who sought work. According to him, his grandson Noah was his most faithful and hardest working helper. Bernard’s most prized “jobs” was bricking a brand-new home for his daughter. Along with his partner, he was joined by his brother “Doc” and his cousin “Mop”. Almost daily, they could be found foot racing one another, talking trash and threatening to quit or to fire each other, sparking concerns that the house would never be completed. Bernard was known to be quite playful, having stuffed several nephews in trashcans and in closets, only to have them want to continue to come for him. His playful spirit will live on through his grandsons Nyles and Caleb.

Bernard was preceded in death by his brothers Robert, Sr. and Carol Lewis, Sr and his sister, Delia Winston. He leaves to cherish memory his two daughters, Benita Johnson and Dr. Catherine Lewis Touissant (Kilder) and his son, Michael Trice; his “Boys” Georgey and Hussone Jones and Maurice Saunders; his grandchildren Navi, Nyles and Noah Johnson, Kaden and Caleb Touissant, and Destiny, Danielle and Deanna Trice; his great-grandchildren Shah’mel, Melody and Sire; his brother, John Lewis (Eleanor), three sisters, Barbara Stansbury, Mary Griffin, and Betty Johnson; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends, among them devoted Joyce Jackson (Babes) and Shirley Green.

Thank you God for his beautiful life and loving spirit.