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Pastor Clifton Lewis celebrated by many

An overflowing crowd filled Mt. Harmony Baptist Church Family Life Center, many of them clergymen, to say goodbye to Reverend Clifton Edward Lewis, pastor of Mt. Harmony Baptist Church of Ruston. His homegoing celebration was held in the church’s family life center on Saturday.

The eulogy was delivered by Dr.  C. E.  McClain, pastor of Little Union Baptist Church of Shreveport.

McClain said God can use anybody to deliver his word. He spoke about men of the bible such as Moses, David  and Abraham. Although these men did great things, they were not perfect.

He said, “When God called Clifton to preach, God did not take away any of his human desires. He was still a man, a man called to do God’s work.”

McClain  aid the crowd was a testimony to the number of lives that Rev. Lewis impacted, and if he were a member of Mt. Harmony, his first order of business would be to name the family life center  after Lewis.

In addition to Mt. Harmony, Lewis served as pastor of St. Peter Missionary Baptist Church of Ruston, New Land Baptist Church of Bernice and New Galilee Baptist Church of Jonesboro.

Lewis played baseball under GSU president and legendary coach,  Ralph Waldo Emerson Jones and Wilbert Ellis. Later he was employed at his alma mater and worked in the business office and in the journalism area.

Lewis was married to the former Shirley Woods for 39 years and they had two children, Kwenita  and Everette, and five granddaughters.

Xoliswa T. Lewis, one of his granddaughters, said the family wanted the services to be uplifting, a celebration.

She said, “I know my grandfather would not want us to be sad. Because he impacted a lot of people, it was important to celebrate the legacy he is leaving behind, one of service and embracing the good and positive in life. He was a good man to the community, his family, and everybody who knew him. It was important that was focused on.”

What she will miss most about her grandfather is his wisdom and good advice. “My grandfather was very, very wise when it came to a lot of situations. He gave the  best advice. Not only was it biblical, it related to real life,” said Xoliswa.