T.C. Lewis, a man who was always willing to help out, both in his political and personal life, passed away Thursday, and Jackson County lost one of its best.
Popular with everyone, Lewis was elected to be Sylva's mayor in 1977, a post he held for more than a dozen years, and chairman of the Jackson County Commissioners in 1994.
Lewis' victory in the countywide election showed conclusively the high regard voters had for him. In an election where four commissioners' seats were claimed by Republicans, Lewis was the only Democrat to prevail.
During his three-plus terms as Sylva's mayor, Lewis moved Sylva forward while earning the respect of both his fellow elected officials and town employees.
"A true gentleman who met everyone with a smile, T.C. Lewis was a good ambassador for Sylva," said longtime Sylva town board member Audrey Tritt, who served with Lewis for about five years.
"T.C. listened very carefully to any issue people brought," said Sylva Mayor Brenda Oliver, who was a member of the town board most of the years Lewis was mayor. "If he couldn't agree with them, he at least found a way to explain his position in a gentle, concise way and made people understand his perspective."
Lewis was remembered as a mayor who got along well with town employees by Sylva clerk Tommy Thompson, who began his tenure at City Hall in 1988 while Lewis was mayor.
"T.C. was always joking and kidding around with the employees," Thompson said. "He liked to interact and knew a little about everyone and their family."
The Rev. John Bunn, who succeeded Lewis as mayor was one of three preachers who officiated during Lewis' Monday afternoon funeral.
"T. always embodied the deepest feelings of those around him," Bunn said. "Sylva has lost a great citizen, a humble servant and a great friend... and this public outpouring would have embarrassed T. to death because T. was a man without any kind of pretense."
Lewis never compromised his own code of ethics, and he left Sylva a better place than he found it.
_______________________
T.C. Lewis
Troy "T.C." Lewis, 74, of Sylva, died Thursday, Dec. 11, 2003, at Mission Hospitals in Asheville after a period of declining health.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Monday, Dec. 15, at the Sylva First Baptist Church. The Revs. Dr. John Bunn, Ray McCall and Wayne Hill officiated. Burial was at Fairview Memorial Gardens.
A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, he was a graduate of Webster High School and Western Carolina University, afterwards serving in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean conflict.
He was owner/operator of Lewis Oil for many years and formerly Lewis Esso until 1969. He served as mayor of Sylva from 1977-90. In addition, he has served as chairman of the Jackson County Commissioners, former vice president of Jackson Savings Bank Board of Directors and was currently the president of Jackson Savings Bank Board of Directors.
He was retired from the Sylva Volunteer Fire Department and was a member of Webster Baptist Church, where he had served as treasurer for many years. He was a son of the late Ernest Lewis. in addition to his father, he was preceded in death by one son, Mike Lewis.
Surviving are his wife, Oberia Owen Lewis; his mother, Edna Davis Lewis of Dillsboro; one son, Tim Lewis of Sylva; one brother, Duane Lewis of Winston-Salem; one sister, Carolyn Buchanan of Dillsboro; and four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Popular with everyone, Lewis was elected to be Sylva's mayor in 1977, a post he held for more than a dozen years, and chairman of the Jackson County Commissioners in 1994.
Lewis' victory in the countywide election showed conclusively the high regard voters had for him. In an election where four commissioners' seats were claimed by Republicans, Lewis was the only Democrat to prevail.
During his three-plus terms as Sylva's mayor, Lewis moved Sylva forward while earning the respect of both his fellow elected officials and town employees.
"A true gentleman who met everyone with a smile, T.C. Lewis was a good ambassador for Sylva," said longtime Sylva town board member Audrey Tritt, who served with Lewis for about five years.
"T.C. listened very carefully to any issue people brought," said Sylva Mayor Brenda Oliver, who was a member of the town board most of the years Lewis was mayor. "If he couldn't agree with them, he at least found a way to explain his position in a gentle, concise way and made people understand his perspective."
Lewis was remembered as a mayor who got along well with town employees by Sylva clerk Tommy Thompson, who began his tenure at City Hall in 1988 while Lewis was mayor.
"T.C. was always joking and kidding around with the employees," Thompson said. "He liked to interact and knew a little about everyone and their family."
The Rev. John Bunn, who succeeded Lewis as mayor was one of three preachers who officiated during Lewis' Monday afternoon funeral.
"T. always embodied the deepest feelings of those around him," Bunn said. "Sylva has lost a great citizen, a humble servant and a great friend... and this public outpouring would have embarrassed T. to death because T. was a man without any kind of pretense."
Lewis never compromised his own code of ethics, and he left Sylva a better place than he found it.
_______________________
T.C. Lewis
Troy "T.C." Lewis, 74, of Sylva, died Thursday, Dec. 11, 2003, at Mission Hospitals in Asheville after a period of declining health.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Monday, Dec. 15, at the Sylva First Baptist Church. The Revs. Dr. John Bunn, Ray McCall and Wayne Hill officiated. Burial was at Fairview Memorial Gardens.
A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, he was a graduate of Webster High School and Western Carolina University, afterwards serving in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean conflict.
He was owner/operator of Lewis Oil for many years and formerly Lewis Esso until 1969. He served as mayor of Sylva from 1977-90. In addition, he has served as chairman of the Jackson County Commissioners, former vice president of Jackson Savings Bank Board of Directors and was currently the president of Jackson Savings Bank Board of Directors.
He was retired from the Sylva Volunteer Fire Department and was a member of Webster Baptist Church, where he had served as treasurer for many years. He was a son of the late Ernest Lewis. in addition to his father, he was preceded in death by one son, Mike Lewis.
Surviving are his wife, Oberia Owen Lewis; his mother, Edna Davis Lewis of Dillsboro; one son, Tim Lewis of Sylva; one brother, Duane Lewis of Winston-Salem; one sister, Carolyn Buchanan of Dillsboro; and four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
T.C. Lewis, a man who was always willing to help out, both in his political and personal life, passed away Thursday, and Jackson County lost one of its best.
Popular with everyone, Lewis was elected to be Sylva's mayor in 1977, a post he held for more than a dozen years, and chairman of the Jackson County Commissioners in 1994.
Lewis' victory in the countywide election showed conclusively the high regard voters had for him. In an election where four commissioners' seats were claimed by Republicans, Lewis was the only Democrat to prevail.
During his three-plus terms as Sylva's mayor, Lewis moved Sylva forward while earning the respect of both his fellow elected officials and town employees.
"A true gentleman who met everyone with a smile, T.C. Lewis was a good ambassador for Sylva," said longtime Sylva town board member Audrey Tritt, who served with Lewis for about five years.
"T.C. listened very carefully to any issue people brought," said Sylva Mayor Brenda Oliver, who was a member of the town board most of the years Lewis was mayor. "If he couldn't agree with them, he at least found a way to explain his position in a gentle, concise way and made people understand his perspective."
Lewis was remembered as a mayor who got along well with town employees by Sylva clerk Tommy Thompson, who began his tenure at City Hall in 1988 while Lewis was mayor.
"T.C. was always joking and kidding around with the employees," Thompson said. "He liked to interact and knew a little about everyone and their family."
The Rev. John Bunn, who succeeded Lewis as mayor was one of three preachers who officiated during Lewis' Monday afternoon funeral.
"T. always embodied the deepest feelings of those around him," Bunn said. "Sylva has lost a great citizen, a humble servant and a great friend... and this public outpouring would have embarrassed T. to death because T. was a man without any kind of pretense."
Lewis never compromised his own code of ethics, and he left Sylva a better place than he found it.
_______________________
T.C. Lewis
Troy "T.C." Lewis, 74, of Sylva, died Thursday, Dec. 11, 2003, at Mission Hospitals in Asheville after a period of declining health.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Monday, Dec. 15, at the Sylva First Baptist Church. The Revs. Dr. John Bunn, Ray McCall and Wayne Hill officiated. Burial was at Fairview Memorial Gardens.
A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, he was a graduate of Webster High School and Western Carolina University, afterwards serving in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean conflict.
He was owner/operator of Lewis Oil for many years and formerly Lewis Esso until 1969. He served as mayor of Sylva from 1977-90. In addition, he has served as chairman of the Jackson County Commissioners, former vice president of Jackson Savings Bank Board of Directors and was currently the president of Jackson Savings Bank Board of Directors.
He was retired from the Sylva Volunteer Fire Department and was a member of Webster Baptist Church, where he had served as treasurer for many years. He was a son of the late Ernest Lewis. in addition to his father, he was preceded in death by one son, Mike Lewis.
Surviving are his wife, Oberia Owen Lewis; his mother, Edna Davis Lewis of Dillsboro; one son, Tim Lewis of Sylva; one brother, Duane Lewis of Winston-Salem; one sister, Carolyn Buchanan of Dillsboro; and four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Popular with everyone, Lewis was elected to be Sylva's mayor in 1977, a post he held for more than a dozen years, and chairman of the Jackson County Commissioners in 1994.
Lewis' victory in the countywide election showed conclusively the high regard voters had for him. In an election where four commissioners' seats were claimed by Republicans, Lewis was the only Democrat to prevail.
During his three-plus terms as Sylva's mayor, Lewis moved Sylva forward while earning the respect of both his fellow elected officials and town employees.
"A true gentleman who met everyone with a smile, T.C. Lewis was a good ambassador for Sylva," said longtime Sylva town board member Audrey Tritt, who served with Lewis for about five years.
"T.C. listened very carefully to any issue people brought," said Sylva Mayor Brenda Oliver, who was a member of the town board most of the years Lewis was mayor. "If he couldn't agree with them, he at least found a way to explain his position in a gentle, concise way and made people understand his perspective."
Lewis was remembered as a mayor who got along well with town employees by Sylva clerk Tommy Thompson, who began his tenure at City Hall in 1988 while Lewis was mayor.
"T.C. was always joking and kidding around with the employees," Thompson said. "He liked to interact and knew a little about everyone and their family."
The Rev. John Bunn, who succeeded Lewis as mayor was one of three preachers who officiated during Lewis' Monday afternoon funeral.
"T. always embodied the deepest feelings of those around him," Bunn said. "Sylva has lost a great citizen, a humble servant and a great friend... and this public outpouring would have embarrassed T. to death because T. was a man without any kind of pretense."
Lewis never compromised his own code of ethics, and he left Sylva a better place than he found it.
_______________________
T.C. Lewis
Troy "T.C." Lewis, 74, of Sylva, died Thursday, Dec. 11, 2003, at Mission Hospitals in Asheville after a period of declining health.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Monday, Dec. 15, at the Sylva First Baptist Church. The Revs. Dr. John Bunn, Ray McCall and Wayne Hill officiated. Burial was at Fairview Memorial Gardens.
A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, he was a graduate of Webster High School and Western Carolina University, afterwards serving in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean conflict.
He was owner/operator of Lewis Oil for many years and formerly Lewis Esso until 1969. He served as mayor of Sylva from 1977-90. In addition, he has served as chairman of the Jackson County Commissioners, former vice president of Jackson Savings Bank Board of Directors and was currently the president of Jackson Savings Bank Board of Directors.
He was retired from the Sylva Volunteer Fire Department and was a member of Webster Baptist Church, where he had served as treasurer for many years. He was a son of the late Ernest Lewis. in addition to his father, he was preceded in death by one son, Mike Lewis.
Surviving are his wife, Oberia Owen Lewis; his mother, Edna Davis Lewis of Dillsboro; one son, Tim Lewis of Sylva; one brother, Duane Lewis of Winston-Salem; one sister, Carolyn Buchanan of Dillsboro; and four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
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