ALEXANDRIA, La. — Phillip Sylvester Lewis died Monday, March 24, 2014, at Grace Hospice House in Alexandria. He was 61.

Mr. Lewis was born in Fitler to the late Percy Sr. and Therisa Digg Lewis.

He was a graduate of Rolling Fork High School and attended Delta Junior College majoring in welding. He was a running back on the football team, which won the National Junior College Championship his freshman year. He was employed at Marathon LeTourneau Inc. and Ingalls Shipyard as a welder before entering the U.S. Army, where he retired as a first sergeant after 26 years.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his grandparents; daughter, Shmekia Lewis; brother, Percy Lewis Jr.; and sisters, Lurene Lewis Lakes, Doris Lewis and Theresa Lewis Warfield.

Suvivors include his wife, Martha Parker Lewis of Alexandria; children, Ishmerail Lewis, Lamarai Lewis, HaKeem Lewis, Tomarrah Lewis and Eternity Lewis, all of Alexandria, and Chymetra Tims of Kansas; brothers, Robert Lewis of Rolling Fork, Willie Lewis of St, Martinville, La., Roosevelt Lewis of Chicago, the Rev. Virdell Lewis Sr. of Vicksburg, and the Rev. Clinton Lewis of Greenville; sisters, Ealsie Turnbull of St. Thomas, V.I., Bobbie Bryant of Pollocksville, N.C., and Betty Jo Dykes of Houston, Texas; and other relatives and friends.

Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Second Union M.B. Church in Alexandria. Burial will be Friday, April 4, 2014, at the military cemetery in Moss Point. Progressive Funeral Home has charge of arrangements.