SLS 183ES-21 ORIGINAL
2018 Third Extraordinary Session
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 4
BY SENATOR BOUDREAUX
CONDOLENCES. Expresses condolences on the death of Joseph John Lewis III.
1 A RESOLUTION
2 To express the sincere condolences of the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the
3 death of Joseph John Lewis III.
4 WHEREAS, it is with profound sorrow that the Senate of the Legislature of
5 Louisiana has learned of the passing of Joseph John Lewis III on June 7, 2018, at the age of
6 seventy-eight; and
7 WHEREAS, Joseph John Lewis III was born on January 1, 1940, to Joseph John
8 Lewis Jr. and Mary Lou King Lewis; and
9 WHEREAS, he was raised on the family farm, attended J. S. Clark High School, and
10 later joined his older brother George to work at a fish plant in Texas; and
11 WHEREAS, from there, Joseph Lewis joined Union 692 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana,
12 and worked as a laborer, working on pipelines until he retired when, along with his wife, he
13 became a successful business owner providing affordable housing within the community;
14 and
15 WHEREAS, Joseph Lewis married the love of his life, Dolly Mae Birotte, and from
16 this union two children were born: Danielle Marie Lewis Castain and Victor Paul Lewis; and
17 WHEREAS, he was a devoted member of Holy Ghost Catholic Church; and
18 WHEREAS, Joseph and Dolly worked freely as community servants and campaigned
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SLS 183ES-21 ORIGINAL
1 for the candidates whom they thought would better serve their country, state, or local
2 community; and
3 WHEREAS, Joseph Lewis was an ambassador for the National Federation of the
4 Blind for over twenty-five years; his work as an advocate for the blind included travels to
5 many places including Washington, DC, where, as a delegate, he lobbied to bring Braille
6 into schools and earned the Jerry Hemphill Award, which is named for an individual who
7 promoted Braille; and
8 WHEREAS, he was also president of the Magnificent 7 Social and Civic Club with
9 the main mission being to unite the community through public awareness on social services,
10 celebrating children through parents, and hosting two free balls a year where several hundred
11 people were in attendance; and
12 WHEREAS, Mr. Lewis was known by many as either Joseph, Joe Lewis, Jivey Joe,
13 or the nickname "Bay" that his parents gave him, and he answered to all; and
14 WHEREAS, Joseph Lewis loved spending time with his family and traveling; his
15 hobbies were attending horse racing with friends, tailgating while attending the New Orleans
16 Saints football games with his son, and watching western movies and sports; and
17 WHEREAS, he was preceded in death by his father, Joseph John Lewis Jr., and
18 mother, Mary Lou King Lewis; four brothers, Paul, George, Johnny, and Dennis Lewis; his
19 grandparents, aunts, and uncles; nephews, Michael, Patrick (Pa Pat), Michael Todd Lewis
20 (Toddy); a niece, Rhonda Lewis Taylor; a brother-in-law, James Carroll; and sisters-in-law,
21 Willie Vie Lewis and Grace Lewis; and
22 WHEREAS, he leaves to cherish his memory his wife of fifty-seven years, Dolly
23 Lewis; one daughter, Danielle Lewis Castain and husband, Joseph (J.C.) Castain; one son,
24 Victor (VPL) Lewis and wife, Tiffanie Griffin Lewis; five grandchildren, Joseph Soban
25 Castain III and wife, Elecia, Alexandra Castain Patel and husband, Kunal, Jazmond Castain,
26 Kyra Lewis, and Zion Lewis; two great-grandchildren, Ava and Zoey Castain; three brothers,
27 Lawrence Lewis (Pumpkin) and wife, Linda (Sac), Rodney Lewis (Black) and wife,
28 Priscilla, and Jimmy Lewis and wife; five sisters, Elizabeth Jones, Gloria Carroll, Willie
29 Mae Hughey and husband, William, Mary Chachere and husband, Russell, and Jeanette
30 Chachere and husband, Glenn; sisters-in-law, Ruby Lewis and Barbara Lewis; two
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1 goddaughters, Terry Gauthier and Peggy Noel; devoted longtime friends, Robert Lee Davis
2 and Gerald Hardy (Poochie), and many special nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, and
3 friends; and
4 WHEREAS, he was a beloved son, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather,
5 brother, uncle, godfather, and friend who was admired and respected by many and, upon his
6 death, the world lost a unique individual who left an indelible mark and huge void for
7 family, friends, clients, community, and all those who had the privilege to have known him;
8 and
9 WHEREAS, the strength of our communities and the overall vitality of American
10 society depend, in great measure, upon the dedication of men like Joseph John Lewis III who
11 use their talents and resources to leave a legacy and to benefit future generations.
12 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
13 does hereby express sincere and heartfelt condolences upon the death of Joseph John Lewis
14 III, does hereby extend appreciation for the pride and honor that he will forever bring to his
15 community and to the state of Louisiana, and does hereby recognize and record for posterity
16 his outstanding accomplishments and his legacy of work for the blind and for his
17 community.
18 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
19 widow of Joseph John Lewis III, Dolly Lewis.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Jerry J. Guillot.
DIGEST
SR 4 Original 2018 Third Extraordinary Session Boudreaux
Expresses condolences upon the death of Joseph John Lewis III.
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