Samuel Lewis

Samuel D. Lewis was born on December 7,1948 and is the son of the late Joseph Lewis and Lillie Dumas Lewis. He grew up in the St. Bernard Housing Development in New Orleans, LA and was one of seven children. He was once married to the late Mary Johnson and had two daughters Samantha Lewis and Peggy Dickens. He has 4 grandkids and 7 great grandkids. Sam was preceded in death by his parents, siblings James Lewis, John Walters, and Lydia Lewis and leaves behind two brothers, Clarence Johnson and Anthony Allen, and one sister, Linda Lewis. Sam the Professional Sam was drafted to the military during the Vietnam War and served in the Navy, Army, and National Guard for 17 years. Although he didn’t fight in any wars, he served our country with honor and pride. After being discharged from his military duties, he worked at the Southern Baptist Morgue until his retirement. Sam the Man We Know and Love Sam was an exceptional, well-rounded artist. He could paint, draw, had exceptional penmanship and was highly skilled in carpentry. He was so talented that, in his youth, he garnered the interest of scouts and was invited to New York to perfect his craft. He was also a well- known disco jockey (DJ) and played at several bar rooms around town, where he was affectionately called, “Cool Lou.” Sam’s creativity was on display throughout his life. Whenever you saw him, he was decked out in colorful clothing, hats, and brooches and of course his famous hand carved walking sticks. In his later years, Sam joined New Hope Baptist Church, under the leadership of Pastor Jamaal Weathersby. He loved church, enjoyed riding the church van and attending Sunday School. He could be found sitting upstairs on the first row dressed in African attire from head to toe, throwing up the black power fist as his form of praise and worship. Sam was a jubilant person and didn’t need much to make him happy, he was the epitome of the nickname “Cool Lou”. He loved being with family and friends, listening to his gospel and old school jams, while sitting on “his” porch. At every gathering, you could find him smiling and singing along to the music or on the dance floor. We celebrate, Samuel. Sam. Uncle Sam. Dad. Cool Lou. The Man. The Myth. The Legend