John Joseph Lewis

John Joseph Lewis Sr., 84, of Biloxi, passed away on Friday, June 4th in Biloxi. He was born on March 27th, 1937, in Biloxi, Mississippi and a lifelong resident. John was a 1955 graduate of Notre Dame Catholic High School and a 1957 graduate of Perkinston Junior College. He was preceded in death by his parents, Anna Pisarich Lewis and Charles A Lewis; grandparents, Gasper and Mary (Peresich) Pisarich and Mr. and Mrs. Don Lewis; and granddaughter, Jessica Marie Fletcher. He is survived by the love of his life, Beryl Barq Lewis. They were married on June 27th, 1959. He was a loving father and grandfather to daughter, Lisa (Stephen) Fletcher; son, John Joseph (Allison Baronich) Lewis, Jr.; granddaughters, Sarah Christine Fletcher, Heather Elizabeth Fletcher (Jake) LeBlanc, Gabrielle Nicole Lewis (Jared) Harvey, and Anna Terese Lewis (Trevor) Norris; grandsons, John Joseph Lewis III and Christian Barq Lewis; and great-grandchildren, Ashlyn Ella-Gray Lewis and Noah Blane Norris. John was in the Notre Dame Marching Band and was Captain in 1955. Upon graduating from Perkinston Jr. College in 1957, he became manager of Rosetti’s Café and Bay Sporting Goods in Biloxi. In 1962, John was a Special Representative for Barq’s Bottling Co. of Biloxi; also, that year he became an agent for American National Insurance Company and was one of the Leading Agents in the Nation. He has been recognized as a Charter Member of the American National Insurance Company President’s Club for 10 years and qualified for every company convention and numerous awards. In 1969 John purchased Rosetti’s Cafe’. In 1971 he resigned from American National to devote more time to his family and business. In 1983 John built a new Rosettie’s on Caillavet Street at 50 years in business. In 1991, the Beau Rivage purchased the restaurant and property and he retired. John was a past president of the Biloxi Jaycees and the Biloxi Business Men’s Club, a Director in the Biloxi Chamber of Commerce and a member of the City Audit & Budget Committee under Mayor Jerry O’Keefe. He was a Director on the American Saving & Loan Board and a 34-year advisory Board Member for the First Mississippi National Bank that later became BancorpSouth. John was a member of the Slavic Benevolent Association. He was appointed by Governor William Winter to review implementation of the State’s Coastal Program by the Department of Wildlife Conservation. In 1965 John was named to the “Outstanding Young Men of America”. He was past President of Mithras Carnival and LesPierrot Carnival Associations, the treasurer for Neptune Carnival Association for four years, was the 1963 King of Les Masques Carnival Ball, and 1981 Duke in the Neptune Carnival Association. He promoted the Jr. Sailing Program at the Biloxi Yacht Club with his wife Beryl from 1975-1978. John is a member of Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church and was a Eucharistic Minister and served on the Parish Council, and a 3rd Degree Knight of Columbus. We would like to say a special thanks to Dr. Douglas Lanier, Dr. Joseph O’Gorman, the nurses and staff at the Biloxi Dialysis Center, to nurse Vickie Foley with Camellia Home Health and Hospice Care and Saad’s Health Care. Services will be held Wednesday, June 9th, at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church with visitation from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM followed by The Mass of Christian Burial at 1:00 PM. Private interment will follow at the Biloxi Cemetery. In Lieu of flowers, the family asks that donation be made to your favorite charity. Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home is honored to serve the Lewis family.