Rev.
Dr. Lewis A. Myers, Jr. was born November 26, 1928 in Haines City, Florida, son
of the late
Lewis
A. Myers, Sr. and Marie Blacknell Grimmage Myers. He was raised by Johnny &
Eula Myers.
He
graduated from Roosevelt Elementary/High School in Lake Wale, Florida. During
high school, he was known as a prize winner champion in boxing. He
was called Butch Myers. He boxed as a lightweight in Golden Gloves and got a
record of 7-1. He held his first
job as a presser at his father’s first African American own business “Myers Dry
Cleaners” in Lake Wales, Florida. He started college in 1957 where he earned
his undergraduate degrees from Allen University, Columbia SC and International Bible Institute and Seminary, Orlando,
Florida. His graduate studies were undertaken at Billy Graham School of Evangelism where
he earned his Doctorate in Divinity.
During the 1960s, he took part in sit-ins at lunch counters in South Carolina which
helped bring about integration. Rev. Myers’ first church assignment was Bethel
AME, Lake Placid, Florida and he served as pastor at St. James AME, Pehokee,
Florida. He was called to pastor at several churches in South Carolina: Jeter
Chapel AME, Carlisle, SC; New Hope AME, Pinewood SC; St. Peter AME, North
Charleston; SC and Shady Grove AME, Winnsboro SC. He returned to Florida in
1976, pastoring at Mt. Zion AME, Homestead, Florida, Mt. Zion AME, Belle Glade,
Florida, St. Paul AME in Del Ray Beach, Florida and served as the 3rd
generation pastor for Mt. Hermon AME, Fort Lauderdale, Florida from 1984 to
1992. With his strong dedication a choir was formed and named “L.A. Myers
Choir”. In 1996, Rev. Myers became the first African American Chaplain for the
City of Hollywood, Florida Police Department. He received Outstanding Community Service Award from National Council of Negro Women
and Service to Mankind Award from Sickle Cell Disease Foundation of Broward.
After 52 years of ministry, he retired from Mt. Pleasant AME, Hollywood,
Florida in 2004. Although retired, Mt. Hermon AME accepted him as an associate
pastor and member. He touched the lives of many sons and daughters throughout
their ministry. In 2013, he returned to his favorite vacation spot, Winnsboro, SC. Rev. Myers quoted, “It's got pine trees,
jaybirds chirping, rabbits hopping, deer crossing the street. Oh, man, I like
that! I'm gonna retire there someday.”
Rev. Myers favorite scriptures are
Ephesians 6:11-13.
In
addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three sisters; Mary
Blacknell Miller, Rosemary Myers (Boone also deceased) Darden and Mary Lee
Burch, brother; Nathaniel (Daisy) Myers; son, Johnny Myers and daughter, Dr.
Sharon Joyce (Rev. Wayne also deceased) Joseph; son-in-law, Benjamin Means; brother-in-law;
Jake
McCray
He
leaves special memories with his loving wife, Easter Young Myers, Winnsboro, SC;
daughters, Mirian Myers of Dundee,
Florida; Charlotte Drucilla Means of Spartanburg SC, Evelyn Young (Rex)
Jenkins of Columbia SC, Tangee (Garry) Woodard of Winnsboro SC, Cheryl (Lewis)
Johnson of Columbia SC and Valencia Myers (Marcus) Pettaway of Winnsboro SC;
two sisters, Bertha Myers McCray of Dania Beach, Florida and Juanita Myers of
Connelly, Minnesota; one brother, Herbert Lee Myers; one God-son, Quentin
JaVarus Seibles; 18 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, a host of nieces and
nephews, other relatives and friends.
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