Obits for All: Lewis Hampton Washington Jr.

Lewis Hampton Washington Jr. died Sept. 3, 2021 at the age of 62.

Written by his friends; his pastor; his sister-in-law; and his wife, Debbie Dierks (though Lewis called her “my boss”).

If you’d like to share a memory about Lewis, you can do so here: Obits for All

Photos of Lewis Hampton Washington Jr.

What’s your earliest memory of him? 

“I saw him in a voice studio, and he looked over at me and said, ‘Hallo, Schöne,’ which in German means, ‘Hello, Beautiful.’” — his wife

“Lewis was a central figure and character at my church, Crescent Hill Presbyterian. He sang in the choir and sang solos, and he teased me unmercifully.” — his friend Janine Linder

“An Easter Sunday when we were kids, he in a brown checkered suit with a mini Panama hat, and his brother Bill in a black suit and hat. Also, playing with Lewis, Bill and their dog, Chi-Chi.” — Aaron Cabell, who called Lewis “cousin”

“When my sister, Debbie, brought him home to meet the family. I remember thinking, ‘He’s so tall!’” — his sister-in-law, Cheryl Cox

If you made a playlist of songs that remind you of him, what’s one song that would be on it?

“‘Moon River,’ sung by Andy Williams. It was our first kiss.” — his wife

“Now that he’s not here to lead us in singing it: ‘Guide My Feet.’ He could get us all singing from our hearts.” — his pastor, Jane Larsen-Wigger, who says, “Though in many ways, he was my pastor.”

“The Warner Bros. froggy singing ‘Hello My Baby.’ We used to imitate the baritone of the frog and also Leon Redbone.” — Cabell

“‘Great Day’ because we all sang it at my wedding, and Lewis embodied the full JOY of it.” — Linder

“‘Jesus Loves Me’ because it was the last song I heard Lewis sing.” — Cox

What was your favorite thing to do together?

“Take road trips and listen to ’70s music.” — his wife

“As kids, basketball, comics, movies, junk food. And lots of water balloons.” — Cabell

“Go out to restaurants when I visited Louisville and have him explain the obscure food I was about to eat. And Lewis knew EVERYBODY, no matter which restaurant it was. At Mayan Cafe, Lewis would order for me since he knew everything on and about the menu.” — Cox

“I would say singing in rehearsal, where I could see his face and we could cut up, but it really was the deeper conversations in recent years on race, forgiveness and what was sometimes behind his smile.” — Linder

What was his most noticeable quirk?

“Breaking into song at any moment.” — Cox

“Superciliousness.” — Cabell

“Using humor to disarm.” — Linder

“Hugs.” — his friend and fellow singer Frances Weinstock

“He didn’t laugh — he barked.” — his wife

What were his nicknames?

“‘Hampy.’ His dad was ‘Hamp.’” — Cabell

“Mr. Debbie.” — Cox

What did he look like? 

“Gentle giant with green-brown eyes.” — Cabell

“The biggest human in the room.” — Linder

What story about him do you find yourself remembering?

“Watching him rehearse and perform with Debbie. Their non-verbal communication was amazing.” — Cox

“Years ago, my female cousin, a Southern Baptist Seminary student, was injured falling on the steps there between classes. She remembers being scooped up by Lewis, also a student, who asked her where she needed to go. Lewis took her to her home, climbed up a ladder to get in her attic for some crutches and got her back in time for her afternoon class.” — Linder

“Is this PG-13?” — his wife

“I was eight or nine, he was nine or 10. I became so angry with him — the reason now completely forgotten — that I began punching him with all my might to no effect, which made me even angrier. His not understanding why I was angry made the situation worse, and his bewildered solution to make me stop was to grab me and fall on me. There we were, lying in his backyard, Lewis literally absorbing my anger until I calmed down. Amazingly, an hour or so later, he called ME to apologize.” — Cabell

What details about him will you always remember? 

“I have photos of him wearing hand-knitted hats and scarves that he made. He had one gigantic (of course) sweater (or was it a sweatshirt?) that I swear looked like the Irish Republic flag!” — Linder

“His impressions of Foghorn Leghorn tag lines: Ah say, ah say, somebody knocked, and That boy is ’bout as sharp as a bowling ball! Also, how he looked like Dizzy Gillespie when he played the French horn.” — Cabell

“Lewis struggled to learn to speak Minnesotan, but he sure worked hard at it! He nailed, ‘Yah, you betcha!’” — Cox

Can you think of a time he did or said something that had an impact on you? 

“In a recent, painful conflict situation we were involved in, Lewis was the first to seriously talk about the need for forgiveness. He believed it was what God wanted, and, although not easy, he wanted to get there.” — Linder

“‘Will you marry me?’ I was scared and laughed.” — his wife

Who would you pick to play them in a movie?

“A Black Pavarotti, with a deep bass voice!” — Weinstock

What always made him laugh? 

“Mel Brooks or Monty Python movies.” — his wife

What made him cuss?

“Close-minded people, especially during elections.” — Cox

“People being unkind or just asses.” — Larsen-Wigger

What’s something only those closest to him would know?

“Lewis always walked down the street with a big smile and sometimes singing. He told me in later years that being a very large Black man walking through largely white neighborhoods, he learned early to do this so people wouldn’t feel threatened.” — Linder

What’s one thing you want readers to kznow about him?

“He could hold three dogs on his lap at the same time.” — Cox

“Lewis taught the master class in love.” — Linder