Edward "Ed" Eugene Lewis

Edward Eugene Lewis (Ed), 72, of Gainesville, Georgia, went home peacefully during an afternoon nap to be with his Lord Jesus Christ on Sunday, April 1, 2012. He was born in Millen, Georgia, and was the son of Edward Eugene and Grace Joyner Lewis Dailey.

Occupationally, Ed earned a degree as a civil engineer and enjoyed many years as a Vice-President at Shepherd Construction Company, Atlanta, Georgia, until he retired. In service to his community, Ed served on the Fulton County Board of Education for twelve years, assuming many roles of leadership, including President of the Board, as well as other positions with the Georgia School Board Association. In service to his nation he served in the US Army Reserves following his honorable discharge from the US Army. With regards to his personal faith, Ed was active in various churches serving in many roles, including Missions, Training Union, choir, Sunday School, recreational ministry, and a deacon at Rainbow Park Baptist Church and First Baptist Church Alpharetta, having been ordained in 1965 at Kirkwood Baptist Church, Atlanta. Since 2007, he has enjoyed the ministry and fellowship of Lakewood Baptist Church, Gainesville, Georgia.

Ed enjoyed many aspects of life, including years of coaching a variety of Little League sports teams. He also loved working in his yard, wanting his home to be an attractive place where people wanted to visit. He cherished moments of traveling with a wide host of friends to many destinations throughout the globe, but his favorite place was New England, where he enjoyed his favorite delicacies- lobster and halibut. Ed loved music and found hope and encouragement in music programs of all kinds, especially quartet music. All in all, Ed's life can be best summed up in one simple phrase: he loved to see people reach all of their God-given potential in whatever they did.

Though Ed cherished so many aspects of a very busy life, he looked forward to time with his family as a husband, father, grandfather, brother, and son. He loved his family and displayed his commitment through his provision for their needs and his concern with their well-being.

Survivors include his wife of 48 years, Becky Whatley Lewis, Gainesville, Georgia; children, Dr. Gary Lewis (Krissy), McDonough, Georgia, Brent Lewis (Bazlyn), Las Vegas, Nevada, Rev. Kent Lewis (Jennifer), Gainesville, Georgia; grandchildren, Graham, Harper, Kenlee, and Chloee; brother, Ken Lewis (Jan), Cumming, Georgia; Rick (Sharon) Dailey, Eastman; cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Friday, April 6, 2012 at Lakewood Baptist Church with Dr. Tom Smiley, Dr. Jerry Gill and Dr. Gary Lewis officiating. Interment will follow at Hillside Gardens. The family will receive friends Thursday, April 5, 2012 from 2:00-4:00 PM and 6:00-8:00 PM at Memorial Park North Riverside Chapel, 989 Riverside Drive, Gainesville, Georgia 30501, 770-297-6200.

The family requests that memorial donations be made to Sharing the Vision at Lakewood Baptist Church, 2235 Thompson Bridge Road, Gainesville, Georgia 30501.

Online condolences at www.memorialparkfuneralhomes.com