Sterling Price Lewis

Sterling Price Lewis, “S.P.” was born on August 29, 1923, in Ruston, LA, the fifth of ten children from the union of Aaron and Dora May Lewis. At an early age, he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. He enjoyed preaching, bible study, and singing, and often stood on top of a milk crate to deliver the good news. The Lewis family worshipped together at St. John’s Baptist Church where he taught bible school to the youth. They also worshipped at Liberty Hill Baptist Church, where the Lewi s country farm and plantation were located. As a young boy, Sterling spent many golden years living with his beloved Grandmother “Ma.” In 1891, S.P.’s uncle, Ira Lewis, helped to establish Lincoln High School, a “colored” school, where S.P. was the only young man in his Home Economics class. He wanted to learn how to cook fresh food from the farm, bake cakes, and make homemade biscuits. In 1940, Sterling migrated north from LA to Kansas City, and was inducted into the U.S Army in 1943. While enliste d, he trained at Camp Wheeler, GA, and Fort Ord, Monterey, CA, where he specialized in amphibious “Duck Training” before entering the World War II Combat Unit. Sterling served in England, Germany, France, and Belgium, and was in active combat on D - Day, Jun e 4, 1944, on the shores of Normandy. He was honorably discharged in 1945 and moved to California in 1946. Sterling met his wife Ouida Wilkins in 1945, while she was attending nursing school in Kansas City. In 1947, they married in St. Louis, MO, and then migrated to Oakland, California, where they joined BeeBe CME Church and started their family of five children: Reginald, Lena, Monica, Joyce, and David. Sterling was an active member of Beebe, serving on the Christian Bd. of Education, Endowment Director , After - School Chairperson, Men’s Chorus, Trustee Bd., and Steward Bd. Vice Chair. Sterling was a successful businessman. Beginning in 1949, he opened and operated a retail shoe store for women, men, and children on 7th Street, worked at the U.S. Post O ffice, and studied real estate at Merritt College, earning an associate degree in Real Estate. Later, he received a Bachelor of Arts in Real Estate, University of Hawaii, School of Business. He also worked as a bus driver and loader. Beginning in 1951, Sterling became an accomplished and outstanding CA licensed real estate broker in the SF - Bay Area, thoroughly enjoying the art of business. He opened a real estate office on 66th Street in Berkeley, and we remember his telephone number to this day, 510 - 65 2 - 0483. While working and building his business, Sterling’s most important job was being a full - time, hands - on “Dad.” Dad fielded our continuous phone calls to mediate sibling disputes, grocery shopped, cooked, packed brown paper bag lunches, drove us to school daily, bathed and combed hair, shopped for clothes and shoes, and drove us to LA to visit relatives. Dad was fun! He took us to county and state fairs, Disneyland, pony rides, parks, and the circus. Sterling developed exp ertise in real estate sales, property management, contracts, insurance, tax, and appraisal. He enjoyed meeting new friends, business acquaintances, and closing deals. Sterling once said, his greatest professional joy was handing over a door key with a smi le and saying, “welcome to your new home.” He was heavily engaged in politics, where he served as a leader and advisor for local and national political candidates, a NAACP Lifetime Member, and Member of Land Executive Assn. To cherish his memory, Sterling leaves his beloved five children, a brother Joe Lewis, nine grandchildren, Terry, Elisa, Ralph, Christopher, Joseph, Cameron (pre - deceased), LaTasha, David, Isaiah, and Joy, seven great - grandchildren, three great - great grandchildren and a host of relative s and friends. S.P. will forever be loved and cherished for being the loving, supportive patriarch of our Lewis family and we are grateful to have known him. Rest in Peace Daddy. We Love You.

Sterling Price Lewis

June 27, 2023

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Sterling Price Lewis

June 27, 2023

365 Days of Grief Support

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