Joann Lewis

Joann Merrill Baird Lewis, 91, died Tuesday, February 6, 2024, at her residence.  Joann was born in Dyersburg on October 2, 1932, to Merrill Miller and Dr. J. Paul Baird.  She started dating her husband, Ken, when she was 15 and married when she was 21 after she attended Universities of Alabama, Florida, and Vanderbilt. After Ken graduated Vanderbilt with a B.S. in December 1952, they married February 8, 1953, and Ken started Southern College of Optometry in Memphis in March of 1953. 

Joann was a lifelong member of Dyersburg First United Methodist Church where she an MYF leader for years.  She was a member of Acts 29 Sunday School and United Methodist Women where she served as President, several times.  She worked with the Cub Scouts, Brownie Scouts, Meals on Wheels and worked with Headstart when it first began. Joann helped organize day care center for working Moms among many other activities. Her works at her church and community, many done quietly behind the scenes, are numerous. She was a member of “The Sewing Circle”, where they all made wonderful memories eating, entertaining, traveling, and caring for each other and their families. 

Memorial services will be at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, February 14, 2024 in the Sanctuary of First United Methodist Church officiated by Rev. Dr. Mary Beth Bernhiesel.

The family will receive friends Tuesday, February 13^th from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the church and beginning at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday morning until service time at the church.

She is survived by her four children, Dr. Melissa Barton and husband, Steve, Merrill Lemon and husband Danny of Dyersburg, Kenneth S. “Bud” Lewis of Jackson, Paul Baird Lewis and wife, Helena, formerly of Ireland and recently Dyersburg; grandchildren, Shelley Lemon Payne and husband, David, Alicia Lemon Hopgood and husband Bradley, Jenna Lemon Simmons and husband Tanner, Erik Lewis and wife Hannah, and Amy Clare Lewis. Great-grandchildren are Bentley Teeter, Jett Hopgood, Miller Payne and Katherine Payne. She is also survived by her sister, Barbara Baird Mullins. 

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Dr. Kenneth S. Lewis, Jr.; and her two grandsons, Russell Barton and Robert Barton.

The family would like to thank Ms. Joann’s dedicated caregivers, Tina Akines, Espirta Cooper, Bernice Ferguson, Sheila Fisk, Cindy Halliburton, Angela Harris, Alecia Ivie, Fannie Jones, and Connie Ivie Tatum for providing such loving care over the years.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to your favorite charity or church.

Cremation services are under the direction of Curry Funeral Home. We are privileged and honored to serve the Lewis family. You may share your condolences and your memories with the family at www.curryfuneral.com.