Morris Edward Lewis

MORRIS EDWARD LEWIS (80), a retired Army Major and Servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, died of heart and kidney failure and went home to be with the Lord on July 16th, 2022, at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, Virginia. Morris was a fighter and never gave up. He entered the Fairfax Inova Heart and Vascular Center on January 10th, 2022, for open heart surgery and never returned home.

Born in Washington, DC, on March 5th, 1942, to the late Roosevelt and Isabel Lewis, Major Lewis was known as “Papa” to his grandchildren. He most enjoyed enthusiastic nurturing and bonding with his beautiful grandchildren. He also enjoyed spending time with his other family members as well. He enjoyed reading and working in his lush “English Garden”.  

He loved traveling with his wife, Martha. Morris and his beloved wife Martha were World Travelers. In 2019, together, they finished their travel bucket list of two around-the-world trips, 31 cruises, 109 countries, 62 cities, and all seven continents, making Antarctica their last and most exciting continent. He was an enthusiastic photographer who enjoyed photographing family, friends, and sights the world over.

Morris enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1957 at the age of 15 (a typewriter, carbon paper, and ink eraser were all he needed to produce a fake birth certificate). He was an enlisted soldier for many years until one of his superior officers recognized him as possibly officer material. He was selected for Officer Candidate School after going before a selection board. He later graduated from Officer Candidate School in 1967 and eventually went from being a high school drop-out to completing his Master's degree. Throughout his distinguished career, he received numerous awards, decorations, and medals, including the Combat Infantryman Badge, Army Aviator Badge(finished Army fixed-wing flight school in 1969), Special Forces Tab, Parachutist Badge, several Bronze Star medals, and the Army Commendation Medal.

Major Lewis served two tours in Vietnam, one tour as an A-Team Weapons Sergeant with the 5th Special Forces Group and one tour as a commissioned officer, fixed-wing airplane pilot with the 224thAviation Battalion, flying hundreds of combat missions over Southeast Asia. He was also stationed in Korea, Germany, and Army posts in the Caribbean and the continental United States. Morris (also known as “Moe”) retired from the Army in 1984 with over 27 years of service and started a twenty-year career as a civilian Department of the Army employee.  

Morris was an inventor with inventions patent-pending and awarded. He was an entrepreneur and owned several small businesses over the years. 

Moe accepted Jesus Christ to become the Lord of his life in 1975. His faith was strong, and he trusted God completely. He was an active member and energetically involved at the Grace Brethren Church, Temple Hills, MD, and later the Immanuel Bible Church, Springfield, VA. In 2019, Morris and Martha started the process of continuing their Christian walk and became members at the Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria, Va.  

After complete retirement, he was actively involved with the volunteer Bravo Organization and the American Red Cross for many years at Joint Base Andrews Medical Facility.

Additionally, Morris had a quick wit and was always ready to share his experiences relating to the many roads he took in life. He would not hesitate to advise that a prayer, a Mr. Good Bar, and a nap could be the initial solution to facing many of life’s problems. Morris was incredibly generous with both his time and money. He was always quick to lend a smile and a helping hand, and he was loved and respected by many and will be sorely missed by those who knew him.  

Morris is survived by his beautiful wife, Martha (Beautiful is the name he called her every day for 54 years, and he introduced her to others as his Bride for 54 years). Martha affectionately called him Babycakes every day for 54 years. Morris met Martha on a blind date in October 1967 and proposed to her in two weeks. Of course, she said yes to the gentleman, and they were married on January 6th, 1968. Morris is also survived by a daughter Yolanda Lenyon (Michael), and a son Michael Edward Lewis. He was a dotting Papa to his grandchildren Connor Lenyon, Tristan Lenyon, Brooke Lenyon, Mariah Lewis, Melania Lewis, and Moniquie Bolden. His grandchildren adored him. Morris is also survived by a bonus daughter(sweet former daughter-in-law), Minerva Lewis.  

Morris was the third of seven children. He is survived by two brothers, Rev. Aubrey C. Lewis and Jeffrey W. Lewis; both live in the Metro area. He also had four deceased siblings, Estelle Proctor, Edith Lewis, Harold Lewis, and Roosevelt Lewis. He leaves a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. He also leaves two very special and close friends, Dr. Cyprian Gardine, Jr, and his wife Judithann Gardine, in Orlando, Florida.

The viewing is scheduled on August 3rd, 2022, from 10:00 am until the time of a private service at 11:00 am at the Alfred Street Baptist Church - 301 S Alfred Street - Alexandria, VA 22314. 

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Major Morris Edward Lewis Army Ret. will be buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions are made to the charity of your choice.