John Miles Lewis, Age, Foundation, Marriage & Father
John-Miles Lewis is the son of the late civil rights leader and U.S. Congressman John Lewis. Though he has not been as prominent in the public eye as his father, he carries forward the legacy of his parents’ commitment to social justice and equality.
Is John-Miles Lewis Still Alive?
Yes, John-Miles Lewis is still alive.
John-Miles Lewis Age
The exact age of John-Miles Lewis is not widely publicized. He was adopted by John Lewis and his wife, Lillian Miles Lewis, so his birth year is not as well-documented as those of public figures born into the limelight.
Birthday
The specific birthday of John-Miles Lewis is not publicly available. Given the private nature of his life, many personal details have been kept confidential.
Job
John-Miles Lewis has kept a relatively low profile concerning his professional life. Unlike his father, who was a prominent public figure, John-Miles has not been in the public eye as much, and details about his career or job are not widely known.
John and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation
The **John and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation** was established to honor the legacy of John Lewis and his wife, Lillian. The foundation aims to continue their work in civil rights, education, and social justice. It provides support to various initiatives that align with the values and mission that John and Lillian championed throughout their lives.
Claire Miles
There is no widely known public figure named Claire Miles related to John Lewis. This might be a mistaken reference or confusion with another individual.
John Lewis and Lillian Miles Marriage
John Lewis and Lillian Miles married in 1968 and remained devoted to each other until Lillian’s passing in 2012. Their marriage was marked by mutual support and shared commitment to civil rights and social justice. Lillian was known for her intellect and dedication to education and community service, complementing John’s public and political endeavors.
John Lewis Lillian Miles
Lillian Miles was a significant influence and support in John Lewis’s life. She was an accomplished educator and a strong advocate for her husband’s work in the civil rights movement. Her contributions extended beyond her role as a supportive spouse; she played an active part in community initiatives and educational programs.
When Was John-Miles Lewis Born?
The exact birth date of Lewis is not publicly documented, reflecting the private nature of his life and his family’s preference to keep personal details out of the public domain.
In summary, **John-Miles Lewis** continues to honor the legacy of his parents, John and Lillian Miles Lewis, through his support of social justice causes. While not as publicly visible as his father, his commitment to continuing their work remains evident. The **John and Lillian Miles Lewis Foundation** stands as a testament to their enduring impact on civil rights and social justice.
Father
John Robert Lewis was born near Troy, Alabama, on February 21, 1940, the third of ten children of Willie Mae (née Carter) and Eddie Lewis. His parents were sharecroppers in rural Pike County, where Troy served as the county seat.
As a young boy, Lewis aspired to become a preacher. At age five, he practiced preaching to his family’s chickens on their farm. Growing up, Lewis had limited interactions with white people due to the majority-black population of his county and his family’s farming lifestyle. By the age of six, he had only encountered two white people in his life. Reflecting on his childhood, Lewis said, “I grew up in rural Alabama, very poor, with very few books in our home.” He described attending a small, community-supported Rosenwald School near his home. “I had a wonderful teacher in elementary school who encouraged me to read. I tried to read everything I could. I loved books. I remember in 1956, when I was 16, going to the public library with some of my siblings and cousins to get a library card, but we were told the library was for whites only.”
As Lewis grew older, he experienced more of the racism and segregation prevalent in Troy during trips into town with his family. Through relatives in northern cities, he learned about the integrated schools, buses, and businesses in the North. At age 11, a visit to Buffalo, New York, with an uncle highlighted the stark contrast between the North and Troy’s segregation.
In 1955, Lewis first heard Martin Luther King Jr. on the radio and closely followed King’s Montgomery bus boycott later that year. At 15, Lewis preached his first public sermon. By 17, he had met Rosa Parks, known for her role in the bus boycott, and at 18, he met King. Lewis later credited evangelist Billy Graham, a friend of King’s, as an influential figure who inspired him to pursue his ministerial aspirations.
After being denied admission to Troy University in Alabama, Lewis wrote to King, who invited him to meet. King, who referred to Lewis as “the boy from Troy,” discussed the possibility of suing the university for discrimination but cautioned that it might endanger Lewis’s family. After consulting with his parents, Lewis chose to attend a small, historically black college in Tennessee instead.
Lewis graduated from the American Baptist Theological Seminary in Nashville, Tennessee, and was ordained as a Baptist minister. He then earned a bachelor’s degree in religion and philosophy from Fisk University, another historically black college, where he was a member of the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity.
