Obituaries

Deacon Earnestine Hairston Lewis, 74, of Faith Drive, Gibsonville, NC, departed from this life on Wednesday, December 27, 2023, at her residence. She was born in Martinsville, VA on August 3, 1949, as the first with a twin sister Shirley to the parents of James Benjamin Hairston, Sr. and Mertha Waller Hairston who preceded her in death.

She grew up and attended school at East Martinsville Elementary and then High School, Martinsville, Virginia, graduating from Albert Harris in 1967. She then enrolled in Patrick Henry Community College (PHCC) Martinsville, Virginia along with five others African American students: her twin sister Shirley, Priscilla A. Hodge, Novella Perkins, Kenneth S. Pettie (deceased) and James T. Lyons (this was a first for Martinsville, Virginia). She graduated from PHCC with an Associate of Arts degree. She, along with her twin sister Shirley, attended Clinch Valley College, (presently known as University of Virginia at Wise), in Wise, Virginia and graduated in 1971 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education in 1971. She earned her Masters of Science degree in Counseling from Radford University, Radford, Virginia in 1974 and did later work towards a second Master degree in information studies from the University of North Carolina, Greensboro, North Carolina.

She joined First Baptist Church, Salem, VA March 1974, where she served as a Sunday School Teacher and Superintendent, and member of the Gospel Chorus. She served at Oak Grove Baptist Church, Lawrenceville, Virginia as a member of the Senior and Mass Choirs, Usher Board secretary and Facilitator for Bible Study. Presently, she was a member of Elon First Baptist Church, Burlington, NC, where she was ordained as a Deacon in 2015, and served on the Usher Board.

She has been blessed to receive the love of marriage and family with Arthur Lewis for the past 26 years. She is the stepmother to children, Edye (Darren) and Ryan (Shanay) and three grandchildren, Bryce, Amari and Ryan. Her siblings, Shirley (Jerry) Everett, James (Betty) Hairston, Jr., Larry Hairston, Richard Hairston, Harry (Garnett) Hairston, Paul Hairston, Phyllis Hairston, Angela Hairston, and Ricky Flood; three aunts, Molois Philpott, Gracie Devins, and Sally (Lloyd) Hagwood; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

Her hobbies include reading, bowling, and walking. In her personal time, she enjoyed studying and meditating on the Word of God.

A visitation service will be held on Wednesday, January 3, 2023, at 11:30 a.m. until the time of the funeral service at 12 noon at the C.R.V. Memorial Chapel at Hairston Funeral Home, 301 Fayette St., Martinsville, VA with Reverend Dr. James H. Wilkes, Jr., Eulogist. Interment will follow at the Hairston Memorial Gardens, Independence Dr., Martinsville, VA. A public viewing will be held on Tuesday, January 2, 2023, at Hairston Funeral Home between the hours of 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. Other times, the family will be receiving friends on Tuesday, January 2, 2023, at the home of her brother, Larry Hairston, 144 Paradise Hills, Martinsville, VA between the hours of 4 p.m. until 8 p.m.

To view live streaming of the funeral service, go to Hairston Funeral Home live on Facebook.

Courteous, efficient, and dependable services provided by Hairston Funeral Home.