LEWIS ELBERT BAY

… . was born April 6th, 1938 to his parents Lewis Leon Bay (1916 - 2001) and Bertha Lou South (1919 -2001) in Wynne, Arkansas. He was the eldest of their three children. He leaves behind his wife Shirley Bay of Bartlett; daughter Phyllis Delph (Brian) of Bartlett; son Jeffery Bay (Lynn) of Memphis; son Bradley Bay (April) of Collierville; son Timothy Bay (Lisa) of Bartlett; son Anthony Bay (Kim) of Bartlett; brother Bobby Bay (Beverly) of Bartlett; brother James Bay (Lorrie) of Horn Lake; Grandchildren - Kristie Bodenheimer (Drew), Holly Delph, Melissa Garrett (Boyd), Brandon Bay, Joey Delph (Jennifer), Justin Bay, Brittany Bay, Joshua Bay (Alex), Sarah Bay, Kevin Bay (Madison), Jason Bay, Christopher Bay (Taylor), Phillip Bay, Nathan Bay. Great Grandchildren - Kiara Garrett, Nicholas Riggs, Aubrey Garrett, Isabella Bodenheimer, Julianna Bay, Brandon Bay and Josiah Delph. ~and many other dear family, church family, and friends of whom he touched every life.

… .He graduated from Messick High School in Memphis in May of 1956. In that same year, he married Ina Gaines, and joined the Air Force in which he served for 21 years leaving with rank of Senior Master Sargent. He served his country in those 21 years in (Kansas City)Missouri, (Denver)Colorado, (Minot)North Dakota, (Great Falls)Montana, and (Langley) Virginia as an Electronics Specialist for radar detectors on F106 and F15 fighter jets- finally retiring in 1977 to Memphis, Tennessee. He loved and cared for his family unconditionally, and traveled the US as his family grew. He and Ina had five children together, and had been married 41 years at her death in 1997.

… .In 1999, he married Wauniece Daniels who he had known since high school. They shared 8 years together, and he cared for her until her death.

… .He was a member of Calvary Baptist Church of Bartlett where he served as a Deacon, and where he met and married his wife Shirley Smith in 2009. The enduring love they felt for each other was undeniable, and they blessed each others lives immensely. They shared their life, served their church, loved and cared for each other, and loved on their grand and great grand kids ~ together.

… .He was many things in his life- son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, but the greatest was " Child of God " . He was a born again Christian, and of all the things he was, his personal relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ was without a doubt the most important. His relationship with his Heavenly Father was evident in the words he spoke, and the walk he walked. Everyone who knew him knew of his love for Christ. If you needed help, and he could - he did. If you needed prayer, and he told you he was praying for you - he was. If you needed love, he loved on you with his whole heart. If you needed Christ, he most assuredly told you of his relationship with Him, and fostered yours with Him as well.

… .On January 11, 2021 at 4:00 p.m., he left his earthly home to be with his heavenly father in his forever home, and entered the gates of heaven hearing " well done thou good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord! "

A graveside service will be held for Mr. Bay on Tuesday, January 26, 2021 at 2:30 PM at Forest Hill Memorial Park Cemetery East.