Giles Floyd Lewis

Spartanburg, SC – The Reverend Giles Floyd, Lewis, Jr., 91, died at his home on Monday, November 19, 2018.  Born September 22, 1927 in Orlando, Florida, he was the son of Giles Floyd Lewis and Florence Baldwin Lewis. Giles graduated from Sewanee Military Academy in 1945.  Following graduation from Clemson University in 1949 he worked for Judson Mills in Greenville.  Mr. Lewis enlisted in the United States Army during the Korean War.  Giles earned his Masters of Divinity from The University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee in 1957 and was ordained in the Episcopal Church.  Mr. Lewis served parishes in Clinton, Laurens and Greenville, SC.  While in Laurens in the early 1960s he was president of the Laurens County Mental Health Association.  Giles served at Christ Church Cathedral in Lexington, Kentucky and later became rector at Saint Bartholomew’s in Nashville, Tennessee.  In 1972 Giles became the Associate Rector at The Church of Saint John the Divine in Houston, Texas.  He retired from full-time ministry after nineteen years of service in Houston.  After retiring to Spartanburg, Mr. Lewis served for four years as the first Parish Missioner at The Episcopal Church of the Advent. Mr. Lewis was predeceased by Jane Tauber Lewis, his beloved wife of 58 years.  In addition to his parents, three sisters, Meriam Lewis, Charlotte Lewis Brady, Elizabeth Lewis Parsons and one brother, Richard Mulligan Lewis preceded him in death. Giles is survived by his children Carolina Henrietta Meriam Lewis (John Vallas) of Spartanburg, SC, Giles Floyd Lewis, III (Joyce) of Newton, MA, Celia Milton Lewis (Scotland Stout) of Ruston, LA and Nathaniel Lewis of El Sobrante, CA; his grandchildren Sam Perry (Jenny) of Lancaster, PA, Melissa Pluchos (Chris) of Matthews, NC, and Avery Jane Stout of Ruston, LA; great grandchildren Athena and Sebastian Pluchos and Charlie and Porter Perry. Giles also leaves behind his brother Charles Baldwin Lewis (Darlene) of Hendersonville, NC; sister-in-law and brother-in-law Ruthe and John Buzby of Cherry Hill, NJ; sister-in-law Nancy Tauber of Redmond, WA, cousins and many devoted nieces and nephews. Mr. Lewis took enormous delight and pride in his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren who brought him great joy and for whom he was eternally grateful to God.  He gave them compassion, open-mindedness, a sense of humor, honesty, generosity, love and faith in God, family and humanity.  His dedication to pastoral ministry, his innate compassion and faith, and his love of books and new ideas were evident throughout his life. A memorial service will be held Sunday, December 30th at 2:30 at The Episcopal Church of the Advent.  Officiating will be The Reverend Dr. Clay Turner, The Reverend J. Edward Morris, The Reverend Louis Tonsmeire, The Reverend Paul Abernathy and Giles’ nephews, The Reverend Robert L. Parsons, Jr. and The Reverend Shepard A. Parsons. The family will receive friends following the service at the Parish and Community Life Center.  In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the Pastoral Care Fund of the Advent Foundation (The Episcopal Church of the Advent, 141 Advent Street, Spartanburg, SC 29302); to Saint Luke’s Free Medical Clinic (162 N. Dean Street, Spartanburg, SC 29302); or to the charity of your choice.