Bishop Clarence C. Lewis , Senior made his transition on Monday evening , July29 in Los Angeles. He was born September 9, 1916 in New Orleans. In 1934 he married his childhood sweetheart Anna Bell Adams. They had three children, Genevieve, Clarence, Jr. and Melvin. In later years he met Ann Willis. They were married for 47 years.
During WW II, Bishop Lewis was inducted into the Navy. Upon receiving a medical discharge he returned to New York City and established a radio repair business in the heart of Harlem on Lenox Avenue. In 1947 he began studying under the founder of the International Constitutional Temple of Brooklyn, NY, the Right Rev. Dr. Anthony George who ordained him in 1949. In 1951 Bishop and Mrs. Lewis founded the Divine Holy Temple Church of God in Harlem. Later he was ordained as a Bishop when he established a second church in upper Manhattan and the third in Detroit, MI.
Bishop Lewis is a Thirty third degree Mason, a member of Western Knights Blue Lodge and Los Angeles Consistory #26. He is the Honorable Past Potentate of Egyptian Temple #5. He was also the Senior Associate Minister of the Belmont Avenue Baptist Church.
Bishop Lewis was preceded in death by his granddaughter Jon-Vie Morales in 1982, his son Clarence, Jr. in 1989, his dear wife Ann in 2001 and his first wife Anna Bell Jordan in February, 2013. He is survived by his son Dr. Melvin Lewis, his daughters, Genevieve Morales , Geraldine Levy , Garnet Jackson, son – in-laws, Leon Morales and John Levy, daughter –in-laws Joyce Lewis, .
The body of Bishop Lewis is being handled by Angelus Funeral Home, 3875 Crenshaw Blvd., Los Angeles. On Friday at 6:30 pm, services by his Consistory # 26 and the Order of the Mystic Shrine, Prince Hall will be held there. His funeral will be held at 11 am on Saturday, August 10 at the Belmont Avenue Baptist Church , 9215 S. Avalon Blvd.
