Burnie Lewis' Obituary
Burnie Lewis of Marianna, AR passed away peacefully at his home with his family at his side on February 12, 2025.
He was the son of Rose Mendelson Lewis and Jacob Benjamin Lewis. He leaves his daughter, Connie Rachel Lewis Lensing and her husband, David, and his son, Gary David Lewis, and his wife, Marie. His daughter, Judith Evelyn Lewis predeceased him.
He also leaves his grandchildren Rebecca Lewis Lee and her husband Josh, Jacob Holt Lewis and his wife Bethany, George Michael Lensing and his wife Angie, David Casper Lensing and his wife Megan, Douglas Harvey Lensing and his wife Mallory, twelve great grandchildren, and one great, great grandchild. He was predeceased by his grandchild Ellen Gentry Lensing.
He was born in Memphis, TN. He was the son of immigrants from Russia and Lithuania. He lived in Newport, AR until he was a junior in high school when he moved to Memphis and attended Central High School where he lettered in four sports. His teammates voted him best all-around athlete. He was named by the Commercial Appeal as one of the top seven prep athletes in Memphis.
After he graduated from Central, he became a cotton grader for Weil Brothers Cotton. He then enlisted in the Merchant Marines and made twelve voyages in the Atlantic and Pacific war zones during World War II.
He and a partner owned a hotel on the Collierville Square. He played minor league baseball for the Union City Tennessee Greyhounds. He played second base and led the Kitty League in stolen bases in 1946.
He moved to Marianna in 1949 and owned a pool hall and co- owned the first mechanical cotton picker in Lee County. He and his partners owned Main Dollar Stores, Inc. He was the oldest living member of the Collierville Masonic Lodge.
Burnie loved his family, Marianna, and especially enjoyed fishing, golf, playing poker, the Arkansas Razorbacks, and the Atlanta Braves. He was the dean of the Women Ding Bat Golfers which he so named. His house was the gathering place of TONG, the men’s group who cooked, ate and enjoyed followship.
He loved as another daughter Carmen Jacks Phelps who he called “St. Carmen of County Farm Hill”. He was also well taken care of by Kathy Tyner and Buck, both of whom he came to love. His steadfast friends Jack Hughey and Larry Wilson assisted him in his later years. So many Marianna people brought tomatoes, home cooked meals and companionship.
There will be a private entombment at Memorial Park in Memphis. The Celebration of Life to which all friends are invited will be Saturday, February 15 at Memorial Park Event Center at 12:00 noon.
Contributions in his name may be made to:
Lee County Community Foundation
The Giving Tree
%Lucy Smith
130 Robertson Ave.
Marianna, AR 72360
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