Dec. 1, 1925-July 13, 2012
WILLIAM CHARLES “PAP” LEWIS III peacefully departed this life at the age of 86 on July 13, 2012 in Lancaster, SC. He was born on December 1, 1925 in Orangeburg, SC on South Carolina’s State College campus into a family of educators and coaches who cherished active involvement in Church and civic life. His parents, William Charles Lewis II and Alethia Lightner.
Lewis, founded the first Black Presbyterian church in Orangeburg, SC. His mother was the first woman Elder in the Presbytery. His father was a professor as well as the first football coach for SC State College and was a founder of the MEAC.
He attended Felton Training School in Orangeburg, SC. Later, he completed high school
at Mather Academy in Chester, SC where he lettered in football, basketball, track, and tennis. He was drafted out of Hampton Institute (noW Hampton University) into the US Navy as a boatswain’s mate and served on an attack cargo ship out of Seattle, WA from 1944-45. In so doing, he became one of the first Blacks to enter the Navy at a seaman class. After returning toHampton Institute, he made All-CIAA; and lettered in football, basketball, track, and tennis. He earned a BS in physical education, minoring in science.
After graduation, Pap continued to develop his athletic prowess, including exhibition tennis matches with Althea Gibson and other world-class African American tennis players as well as playing against the Harlem Globetrotters. He was drafted to play in the Canadian Football League, but received a better offer from Miriam Lee Graham, whom he married and who has been his wife for 60 years. This loving union produced six children: William Lewis, IV; RhettLewis; Michael Lewis; Pernell Lewis; Derrick Lewis; and Denise Lewis.
He was a lifelong Presbyterian: serving Pleasant Ridge Presbyterian Church as a member
of the Choir, Deacon, Elder, and Treasurer; serving Ladson Presbyterian Church in Columbia, SC as Deacon; after having been raised in St. Luke Presbyterian Church in Orangeburg. He began his coaching career at Wilson HS, Florence, SC (1951-55) as Athletic Director, Head Coach of Football, Basketball, Track. From 1955-64, he served as Head Coach of Football, Track and JV Basketball Coach at Booker T. Washington HS, Columbia, SC. Â From1964-1970, Coach served as Athletic Director, Head Coach of Football, Basketball, and Track at Barr Street HS, Lancaster, SC. Finally, Pap served as Head Coach of Basketball and Tennis, Assistant Coach of Football at Lancaster HS, Lancaster, SC from 1970-1995. He led many of the teams at these schools to championships.
In the “off season, he ran clinics, held exhibitions, and in general inspired and developed
the younger aspiring athletes while riding herd on his athletes with his ever-present admonition: No drinking, no smoking, and no dissipating. By the way, he also managed Gay St. Community Pool for many years. Coach William Charles Lewis, III, the only African American to retain a head coaching position in the State of South Carolina after forced desegregation in 1971, was inducted into the SC Coaches Hall of Fame in 2006. In 2012, he was inducted into the Florence, SC Coaches Hall of Fame. If Coach wasn’t at practice, he was golfing, which became such a favorite pastime for him, he co-founded the Tri-County Golf Club, also serving as president for a number of years.
Coach was predeceased by his son, Michael Allen Lewis and his sister, Annette Lewis
Phinazee. He is survived by: his loving wife — Miriam Graham Lewis; four sons – William Charles Lewis, IV (Sharon), Robert Rhett Lewis, Vincent Pernell Lewis, and Lyndon Derrick Lewis (Omileye); a daughter – Cheryl Denise Lewis; 10 granddaughters – Nia, Shante, Kendra, Kiara, Kanika, Imani, Kalifa, Nayah, Jenae, and Omololu; one grandson -Sean; and one step-grandson – Kem Ra; a niece – Ramona Edelin; two grandnephews – Ken Edelin, Jr. and Ramad Speight; and a grandniece – Kimberley Freeman; and a host of relatives, former players, and close associates and friends whose lives he profoundly influenced.
Memorial services for Coach Lewis will be Saturday July 28 at 11:00AM. Memorial services will held at Bundy Auditorium on the campus of University of South Carolina Lancaster, SC. McMullen Funeral Home of Lancaster, SC
view program of COACHWILLIAMLEWIS OBITUARY_7-31-12
