James "Jay" Chester Lewis Jr.

James Jay Chester Lewis, Jr. tragically lost his life on May 4th, 2024. He was preceded in death by his parents, Chester and Christine Lewis; lifelong friend Wiebke Stelter; and his beloved dogs Sampson (Sammy) and Fozzie. Jay spent his life growing, exploring, and expanding his understanding of the world through friends, travel, experiences, and spiritualism; blending The Buddhas Noble Eightfold Path with Christian beliefs. Jay had multiple hobbies he devoted his time to, from skydiving to handmaking prayer bracelets for friends and family, Jay never stopped finding new ways to enjoy life and bring joy to others. He was passionate about photography, riding bikes, hiking, yoga, meditation, and woodworking, just to name a few. Jay was an advocate for animals, having adopted numerous dogs in his life as well as becoming a vegetarian. He was always excited to share the news of whatever new produce he was growing for himself, the most recent being ginger and wheatgrass. His sisters thank him for being their baby brother and being a shining beacon in their life. Those left behind to cherish his memory include his sisters, Debbie Meise (John Sr.), Linda Lewis Collins, Fay Lewis, and Melody Collie (David); niece, Erika Quesenberry (Ross); nephews, Paul Lewis, John Meise, Jr., Jacob Collie (Tanya), Andrew Collie, Michael Collins, Zachary Collie (Dana), Matthew Collins, and Mark Collie; grand-nieces and grand-nephews, Nathaniel, Noah, Hannah, Lilyanne, and Ethan James; numerous close friends; and his two dogs, Stella and Molly. The family will receive friends at the John M. Oakey & Son Funeral Home from 12-2 pm on Friday, May 10th with a funeral service to celebrate his life immediately following the visitation. In lieu of flowers please consider donating to your local ASPCA. Attached is a link to Jays local ASPCA. https://www.charlottespca.org/donate Online condolences may be left for the family by visiting www.johnmoakey.com. Service Details. Visitation When Friday, May 10th, 2024 12:00pm - 2:00pm Location John M. Oakey & Son Chapel Address 305 Roanoke Boulevard Salem, Virginia 24153 Service When Friday, May 10th, 2024 2:00pm Location John M. Oakey & Son Chapel Address 305 Roanoke Boulevard Salem, Virginia 24153 Interment When Friday, May 10th, 2024 4:00pm Location Timber Ridge Baptist Church Cemetery Address 3234 Timber Ridge Rd Bedford, Virginia 24523