Jean Doretha Peaks Lewis departed this life on Saturday, March 9, 2024
at her Dillwyn, Virginia residence.
Born on April 26, 1937 to Benjamin and Phyllis Bagby Peaks in
Enonville, Virginia (Buckingham County). She was the second of three
children. She put her faith in Christ at the age of eleven and joined the
Second Liberty Baptist Church, where she was active in Sunday School
and the Junior Missionary (then called the Willing Worker’s Club), and
was one of the first choir members.
She attended Buckingham County Public Schools and graduated from
Carter G. Woodson High School in 1955. She was a basketball and
softball player and loved her Home Economics Class.
In June 1955, she moved to Nutley, New Jersey and lived with her uncle
and aunt, Julius and Willie Mae Peaks Brown. She obtained a job at
Mountainside Hospital as a Dietitian Aide. She joined the St. Paul’s
Baptist Church, Montclair, New Jersey, under watch care and sang on
the Gospel Chorus.
On November 24, 1956, she married the love of her life, Emmitt Levi
Lewis, Jr. It was a truly blessed day. After moving to a new location,
she joined the Mount Calvary Baptist Church, in Newark, New Jersey.
Five children were born to this union, Cynthia Marlene, Sharon Denise,
Enid Elvira, Emmitt Levi, III, and Millian O’Neal. They were the joys
of her life. She was blessed to stay home until all her children were in
school all day.

After moving to a new location in Newark, she joined the Zion Baptist
Church, sang with the Gospel Chorus, and became a member of the
Young Matrons Group.

She was always active in the community, a member of the Parent-
Teacher Association (PTA) and participated in other school activities.

After receiving her certificate from the Career Training Institute in 1969
she became a Key Punch Operator at Clinton Milk Company.
In December 1971, she moved back to Buckingham County, where she
was reinstated to the Second Liberty Baptist Church. Also, she worked
alongside her husband in the Fork Union Baptist Church. After Emmitt,
Jr. accepted becoming a Deacon in 1979, she joined Fork Union Baptist
Church.
In 1972, she started working as a Teacher’s Aide in the Buckingham
County School System under the Buckingham Federal program. In 1983,
she worked for a short time at the Buckingham Treasurer’s Office. In
1984, received her certificate and became a Geriatric Nursing Assistant,
and gained employment at Heritage Hall Nursing Home, Dillwyn,
Virginia but had to leave due to a car accident. In 1992, she received a
certificate in Early Child Care. In 1995, she started working as the
Secretary of Lewis Trucking until she retired.

Over the years, she served Missionary President, Sunday School
Teacher, Matron of the Junior Choir and Youth Group and Chairperson
of The Deaconess Ministry. She was also a member of The Block Club
Association, The NAACP, The Church-Wide Institute, The North River
& Missionary Conventions, The Choir, The Hospitality Committee, The
Greeting Card Ministry, Past member – Order of the Eastern Star Adah
Chapter 8 and Virginia Union University workshop attendee.

She enjoyed cooking, sewing, playing basketball and softball, playing
checkers and taking care of others. She loved preparing Thanksgiving
dinners and other daily activities.

Jean read the Bible daily. Some of her favorite scriptures were
Philippians 4:13, John 3:16 and Proverbs 31. A few of her favorite
Hymns include : “It Is Well With My Soul”, “Hold to God’s
Unchanging Hand” and “Blessed Assurance”.
Jean was preceded in death by: her parents, Benjamin and Phyllis Bagby
Peaks; her brother, Marvin H. Peaks, Sr.; her grandson, Ruben Buskey;
and great-grandson, CyQuis Peay; step-mother, Willie Anna Peaks,
daughter-in-law, Kimberly Lewis; and brother-in-law, Earl E. Lewis.
She leaves to cherish her memory: her husband of 67 years, Emmitt Levi
Lewis, Jr.; three daughters, Cynthia Marlene Lewis, Sharon Lewis
Hagans (Dwight), Enid Lewis-Dantzler; two sons, Emmitt Levi Lewis,
III and Millian O’Neal Lewis (Wanda); nineteen grandchildren: Marquis
(Ashley), Sterling (LaKeisha), Raquel, Ebony, Robert III, Venae’,
Terron, Candyce, Darel, Chaz (Akiitha), Korey, Je’Ana, Alyssa,
Jordeyn, Cameron and Sydney; fifteen great-grandchildren, Devin,
A’Sadiah, Jalen, Justyn, Adrienne, Cimeya, Sherron, Dekari, CeKhai,
Alyssa, Golden, Jayden, Amayra, MeKhi and MeKhinzie; three
brothers; Ralph L. Peaks (Maggie), Donald King (Rosemary) and David
King (Melba); four sisters-in-law, Minnie L. Bland, Betty L. Brown
(James), Marquita Lewis-Kelsaw and Joyce Peaks; one brother-in-law,
Ceasar N. Lewis (Emma); devoted cousins, Rosemarie Zeigler, Regina
McCoy and Gaston Peaks (Terry); and a host of nieces, nephews, other
relatives and friends.
Being a Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother, Sister, Aunt,
Niece, Cousin, In-Law, and Friend was a great honor, gift and pleasure
to her.