John Wilson Lewis

Obituary For John Wilson Lewis

John “Sonny” Wilson Lewis died October 9, 2024 at his childhood residence in Glen Allen, Virginia. Born on September 17, 1937, he was the son of the late Samuel Lewis and Elizabeth Jones Lewis. Sonny was a life-long resident of Hanover County.

He graduated from John M. Gandy High School in Ashland in 1955. He was an all-around sportsman having played baseball for the Gandy Tigers and in the community along with softball, basketball and football. He was noted for his speed and proficiency in playing baseball and softball with his non-dominant hand. After stints in farming and automotive services, Sonny enjoyed a career of more than 35 years as a truck driver, which was his childhood dream. Beginning with local deliveries, he ultimately advanced to driving 18-wheelers as a long-haul truck driver. He retired from Richfood, Inc. with numerous awards for safe driving over multiple decades.

On Christmas Day 1962, Sonny married Eleanor Davis and together they shared 61 years of matrimony.

Sonny was a trustee and ushered for more than 64 years at the historic Brown Grove Baptist Church in Ashland. He was a humble, hard-working man who loved his family. He was very generous to others with his time and numerous talents, particularly mechanic skills and tile work. With his father and brothers, he built their homestead in Glen Allen with Sonny being responsible for completing the interior details. A passionate and gifted gardener, he was meticulous in caring for his yard and vegetable gardens and shared the bounty with everyone. He was equally meticulous in caring for his vehicles (a Ford man) which he kept spotless and maintained and repaired himself. A shrewd card and board game player, Sonny was especially accomplished at checkers. Favorite pastimes were socializing, traveling the world with family and friends, watching sports, especially football (avid Washington Commanders fan), home projects and fixing things as an in-demand handyman.

Sonny never met a stranger. He greeted all with a warm smile and firm handshake and was best-known for his trademark wave and holding doors open for people. He will be deeply missed by a host of family, friends and acquaintances.

In addition to his parents, Sonny was also preceded in death by his siblings, Robert Lewis, Carol Lewis, Delia Lewis Winston, Barbara Lewis Stansbury and Bernard Lewis.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Eleanor Davis Lewis; daughter, Atanya Lewis of Florida; grandson, Zaki Lewis; two sisters, Betty Lewis Johnson and Mary Lewis Griffin; a host of nieces, nephews, including nephew, Lullen Lewis; great-niece, Mishonda Cobb; great-great niece, Mia Cobb; sisters-in-law, Delores Jones and Blanche Faison, both of Maryland; brother-in-law, Daniel Davis; goddaughters, Tonya Scott and Anya Fields of Maryland; other relatives and friends.

On Sunday, October 20, a public viewing will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Scott's Funeral Home in Richmond followed by the family receiving friends at Scott's Chapel from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. A celebration of life service will be held at Brown Grove Baptist Church on Monday, October 21 at 11 a.m. Interment will immediately follow at Roselawn Memory Gardens in Glen Allen.