John Franklin Lewis Sr.

John Franklin Lewis Sr. was born on Dec. 7, 1919, and went to be with God on Sunday, Nov. 18, 2007. He was descended from early pioneers of Virginia, South Carolina, Florida and Alabama. He spent his early childhood years in Dale County and became a resident of Cottonwood in 1924. While in school, he was a member of the first football team Fielded at Cottonwood High School. He attended Troy University on a football scholarship and learned aviation skills there. He joined the United States Navy in 1943 and served as a Naval Aviator flying a PBM Martin Mariner on submarine patrol. He finished his naval service and returned to Cottonwood, where he was the force behind Lewis Brothers Service Station. He was a lifelong member of the Cottonwood United Methodist Church where he served in many capacities. He was also a member of the Houston County Board of Education for a number of terms. He was a man known for his integrity, fairness, financial and mechanical ability. He could always be depended upon to do the right thing. He bore with patience and fortitude the affliction of a stroke for the last seven years of his life. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 64 years, Ernestine Hughes Lewis; his parents, Warren and Maggie Hicks Lewis; his brothers, Hicks and Wyatt Lewis, and their wives, Merline and Annie Lee; niece, Barbara Lewis Graddy; his sister, Pearl Rowe and her husband, Braxton; his much-loved mother-in-law, Lena Hasty Hughes; father-in-law, Will Hughes; his sisters-in-law, Willa Dean Hughes Stokes and Mildred Nowell Hughes, Ruby Cravey, Blonnie Whitehead; brother-in-law, Odell Hughes; and son-in-law, Sam Dumas. He is survived by his daughter, Linda Carol Dumas Bernal, and her husband, Red; son, John F. Lewis Jr. and wife, Lorna; grandchildren, John Dumas and wife, Kristin, Julie Dumas Blettner and husband, Doug, Joy Lewis Collier and husband, D. J., Mark Lewis; great-grandchildren, Sarah Kate Blettner and Amanda Carol Blettner; his much-loved brothers-in-law, Lamond, Hubert and James Hughes and Myrus Stokes; his sisters-in-law, Sue, Ann and Sylvia Hughes; a host of nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and -nephews and many friends. He was devotedly cared for during the last of his illness by Penny Quattlebaum, Ann "Doodle" Adams, Virginia Yates, Linda Smith, Sabrina Adams. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. at Kent-Thornton Funeral Home in Dothan and the graveside services will be at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 21 at Cottonwood City Cemetery. The family will be receiving anyone who wishes to offer condolences at the home of John F. and Lorna Lewis Jr., 9343 County Road 55, Cottonwood. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Methodist Childrens Home or the Dothan-Houston County Animal Shelter would be welcomed. Pallbearers will be Doug Blettner, Mark Lewis, John Dumas, William Hughes, James Hughes and Jimmy Hughes. Honorary Pallbearers will be Myrus Stokes and Lamond Hughes. Kent-Thornton-Meadows Funeral Home of Dothan, (334) 793-1117, is in charge of arrangements.