Vincent L. Lewis, 82, died on February 27, 2025, in the Bronx, NY. He was a native of Williamsburg, VA.
He is survived by his brother Elwood (Barbara); first cousins, Phyllis Lewis Thomas, Lester B. Lewis, Jr. (Corliss), and Willard Dabney; nephew Elwood Lewis, Jr.; nieces, Shana Dandridge and Branden Lewis; great-niece Sophia Rae Blackman Lewis; and a host of other cousins and friends.
Vincent was born April 30, 1942, to Robert Henry Lewis and Annie Taylor Lewis, in Williamsburg (James City County), VA on the farm of William Henry Lewis, Jr. Vincent’s formative years included his education from first grade to graduation at Bruton Heights School in 1960. At the conclusion of his freshman year at Hampton Institute (now Hampton University), Vincent moved to New York to pursue his life-long love, a career in commercial art and music.
In New York, Vincent attended the Cooper Union School of Art, while he was employed at Arista Records. Vincent continued to pursue his dream for a breakthrough, as a jazz vocalist and a flugel horn (trumpet) artist. Vincent performed in Manhattan and toured with a jazz group that traveled to Russia and other countries. Vincent enjoyed performing and he had an appreciation for numerous jazz musicians.
Vincent’s health began to decline in 2017 when early signs of dementia began and progressed to dementia of the Alzheimer type. Vincent received exceptional care in the memory care unit of the Rebekah Rehab Extended Care Center for several years.
Vincent’s spiritual life began at First Baptist Church, on Nassau Street in Williamsburg. He was baptized at the “Treasure Island Beach” on the Colonial Parkway. Vincent sang in the youth choir and he was active in church. Vincent wrote a prayer when he was a young man in high school, that his mother thought so much of, that it was kept in the family Bible. The prayer that Vincent wrote/prayed is as follows:
“Lord God, unto Whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and Whom no secrets are hid; cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love Thee, and worthily magnify thy holy Name. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen”
May God bless and receive Vincent in His everlasting arms, and may his memory be a blessing.
