Monroe Dispatch - No Struggle, No Progress

Johnny Charles Lewis Jr., or "Junior" as he was fondly known and called, was born February 3, 1963, to parents Johnny Charles Lewis Sr. and VeVer Mae Price. Junior departed this life on Saturday, August 12, 2023, with his wife at his side. He accepted Christ at an early age under the leadership of Rev. Carter at Liberty Hill Baptist Church. He united with Riverside Missionary Baptist Church on April 4, 2004 under the supervision of Rev. Clarence R. Jackson Sr. Junior was educated at Lincoln Elementary, Carroll Jr. High, and Carroll High Schools in Monroe, LA. He held various culinary arts jobs at many places locally, including Tower Club, Bayou DeSiard Country Club, Holiday Inn Holidome, and Ouachita Parish Police Jury. Junior treated everybody with love, honor, and respect. The life he lived was pleasing in the eyes of God, and for that, we honor his life and his legacy. In August 1988, Junior and Bessie were married, and five daughters were born into this union. He was preceded in death by his granddaughter, Blaire A'lloni Johnson. Left to cherish memories are a devoted wife of forty-five years, Bessie Johnson Lewis; eight daughters - Sherlonda, VeVer, RoShonda, JohnnieJohnson, Brittany Lewis (Dominique) Smith, Katie Hollins, Johnnisha, and Johnniquisha Bradshaw; sons - Brian, Antoine, Ronterrius, Standifer, Johnny Charles, Lewis, Jr., Bradshaw, and Vacarri Marsalas; fourteen sisters -Gloria MaGee (S.L.), Ruth Randle, Tammy Warren, Carolyn Pratt (Jerry), Linda Mitchell, Laura Mitchell, Lisa M. Jones, Roseanna Jackson, Diane (Arthur) Jones, Debra Dickson, Brenda Looney, all of Monroe, LA, Mickey Looney of Highland, CA, Doris Jones of Oakland, CA, and Gloria Hill of Washington, DC; six brothers - Charlie McElhanon of Redland, CA, Johnny Jones, Johnny Charles Looney, Billy Ray Price, Benjamin Price, and Larry Price, all of Oakland, CA; one aunt, Rosemarie Divers of Las Vegas, NV; forty grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Funeral services were held Saturday, August 19, 2023, at Riverside Missionary Baptist Church in Monroe, LA.