Lewis J. Kearney

LEWIS JUNIOUS KEARNEY was born to the late James W. and Hattie B. Kearney on October 6, 1913 in Warren County, Littleton, North Carolina.Lewis was the fifth of eight children. He attended the Johnson Public School in the North Carolina School System.He accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior, was baptized, and became a member of the Odell Baptist Church at an early age.Having moved to Baltimore as a young man, in 1940, Lewis took a position with the Federal Government at Fort Holabird. In 1954, the job moved him to the Tobyhanna Army Depot in Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania. Due to the lack of available jobs, he commuted for sixteen years until his retirement in 1970, after 30 years of service.Lewis was joined in marriage to Eunice Mae Harris in 1942 and from this union three daughters were born. Lewis spent he life working for his loved ones. He was a devoted father, grandfather, great grandfather, and great-great grandfather.Upon moving to Baltimore, he joined the Trinity Baptist Church in 1941 and served diligently until his illness. He held membership as an Usher, Finance Member, Trustee, Progressive Men, Church School and Diaconate Ministry. He was ordained as a deacon in 1977 under Rev. Dr. William C. Calhoun Sr. Because of his dedication to his job and to his church, he was presented with numerous awards and plagues during his service to each.Affectionately known as “Grand Pop” by his Grands, Great Grands and Great-Great Grands, he always had time to show and teach, be it sewing, painting, repairing, etc. He was the reason the family joined Trinity because as the daughters got older, we all wanted to “Go to church with Daddy” rather than with Mother and to the church she was attending around the corner. He took time to teach each daughter how to sew and sew well. Daddy took pride in his quilt making from crib bed to king size. So many of us have and will keep warm for years with those quilts. He also enjoyed baking, making bread pudding, apple pies, and his famous apple cobbler which was enjoyed by our family, as well as, many church members.He leaves to cherish his memory: three daughters, Cecelia Coley, Viletta Johnson and Marion Anderson; one sister, Pattie Morris; five grandchildren, Dale Moon-Brown, Ivy Brown, Maxwell Anderson, Leon Coley and Marni Cooper; eleven great grandchildren, Nakeisha Robinson, Asia Dixon, Charles Brown, Mercedes Coley, Howard Rice, Maxine Anderson, Faith Cooper, A.J. Cooper and Taylor Anderson; one great-great granddaughter, Sidney Norman, two devoted sons-in-law, Leon Coley and John Johnson; three sisters-in-law; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Tributes

Lewis J. Kearney

October 6, 1913 - January 4, 2006