Herbert "Mayah" Lewis, 75, departed this life on Tuesday, April 24, 2012, during surgery at a Houston, Texas hospital.

Mr. Lewis was born on June 22,1936, in Church Point, LA. He was the second child of four children born to Armour and Orelia Harrison-Lewis. Mr. Herbert Lewis' family moved to Lake Charles, where he attended Second Ward and Airport School during his elementary years.  He received Christ at the age of nine while serving as an alter boy. He graduated from Washington High School, where he excelled as an athlete in football, basketball, and track. He was a member of his school's Letterman Club and captain of his basketball team. While in high school, his ambition was to become a coach.

Upon completion of high school, he attended Southern University in Baton Rouge, LA, where he was a member of the football team. He was also a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity. He graduated from Southern University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education and a minor in Kinesiology.

While attending Southern University, he met Louella Harris of Washington, LA. They were married in 1961. From that union, three children were born.

After graduating from college, he was employed as a basketball coach and Physical Education teacher at Sacred Heart Catholic High School in Lake Charles, LA, where his team qualified to play for the State Championship two consecutive years. This was a historical event for the school during that time.

He was later employed by Calcasieu Parish Juvenile Courts as the first African American probation officer. He also worked for the Lake Charles Recreation Department. In his later years, he was self–employed, which afforded him the opportunity to travel extensively around the world.

Herbert loved working with youth.  He organized a girls' softball team, "Lewis Enterprise" that competed with other Lake Charles Recreational Leagues.

In his earlier days, one of his favorite hobbies was competitive bowling. Although he was an avid bowler and member of a Lake Charles bowling league, his friends and family knew him best for his culinary skills. At the request of many, he made coconut pineapple cakes that matched no other.

Herbert is survived by his three daughters: Lynnette Lewis-Osugo (Alex) of Houston, TX, Erika Lewis-Madouma (Blaise) of Washington, DC, and Trenalisa Lewis of Mesa, AZ; one grandson: Justin Osugo of Houston, TX; one sister:  Mary Batiste (Rodney) of Lake Charles, LA; two sisters-in-law: Barbara Lewis Bennett of Westlake, LA and Harriet Jones of Lake Charles, LA; one aunt: Lucy Lewis of Jennings, LA; his companion: Theresa Carlin of Lake Charles, LA, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, godchildren, and friends.

He was preceded in death by both parents: Armour and Orelia Harrison-Lewis; his paternal grandparents: Eugene and Suzonne Lewis; maternal grandparents: Pierre and Dora Harrison; his infant son: Gregory Lewis; brothers: Joseph Percy Lewis, Eugene "Joe" Lewis, and Louis Alfred Dudley; one niece: Suzonne DeJean-Goodly.

Visitation for Mr. Herbert Lewis will be on Saturday, May 5, 2012, from 8:00 AM to 10:45 AM, at Combre Funeral Home located at 1200 Mill Street, Lake Charles, LA, with a Rosary at 9:00 AM. The funeral mass will be at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church located at 2031 Opelousas Street, Lake Charles, LA, at 11:00 AM. The Very Reverend Marcus Johnson will officiate.