James Paul Lewis

James Paul Lewis, 86, of Davis, owner of Luther Lewis and Son, passed away Tuesday, September 6, 2016, at Carteret Health Care in Morehead City.

His service is at 2:00 p.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church, Davis, with the Rev. Keith Wall, Rev. Ed Renfrow, and Rev. Rusty Willis officiating.  Interment will follow the service at the Salter Family Cemetery. Visitation will be at First Baptist Church in Davis on Friday, from 6:00-8:00 p.m.

James Paul was born at home in Davis, on February 22,1930. At the age of 14, he helped his father build a shrimp boat. At the age of 17, he traded a car, his father had helped him purchase, for a truck and began buying shrimp and driving up to Norfolk, Va., to sell them.  He soon purchased a second truck and thus began his lifelong career as a seafood dealer, operating as Luther Lewis and Son. During this period of buying and selling seafood, he served three years in the Coast Guard and still managed to operate his business.

In 1962, he purchased all the waterfront property at Oyster Creek in Davis, and built a crab processing plant which was in operation until 1998.  For many years, this was the only crab processing plant in Carteret County.  Luther Lewis and Son was known for its high quality crab meat, which was sold up and down the east coast.

In 1969, wanting to branch out in other areas of the seafood business, he built his first shrimp trawler on site at Oyster Creek, with the help of Harkers Island master boat builders.  Three more trawlers and many smaller boats followed.  Over the years, the trawlers fished up and down the east coast, engaging in a variety of fisheries.  In 1989, the company began making gourmet crab cakes, which continues until today.

James Paul was civic minded and was one of the founders of the North Carolina Crab Derby, which he won many times.  Representing the state of North Carolina, he twice won the National Crab Derby, which is held in Crisfield, Maryland.  He served for many years as a member of the N.C. Marine Science Council, appointed by several governors and was a member of the N.C. Fisheries Association.  He served on the Carteret County Board of Education and was a member of the board at the time East Carteret and West Carteret High Schools were built.

He was a member of Franklin Masonic Lodge in Beaufort, a Shriner and a member of Sudan Temple, a member of York Rite Temple, a member of the Royal Order of Jesters, Court No. 145, in New Bern, N.C., and a member of the Elks Lodge in Morehead City. He was a member of the Coterie Club for many years

He was a member of First Baptist Church of Davis.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy Willis Lewis; two daughters, Paula Lewis and Melissa Lewis of Davis;two step-children,Gay P. Mason and husband,Chuck of Davis, and Chris Piner and wife, Karen of Williston; two sisters, Zelma Willis of Williston and Joyce Mason of Beaufort.  He is also survived by six grandchildren, Jamie Johnson, Joey Piner, Jr., Jeremy Piner, Katlyn Lewis, Chandler Mason, and Saylor Mason,  and three. great grandchildren, Heidi Piner, Jace Piner, and Ella Lewis.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Luther and Llewellyn Lewis;his son, Jimmy Lewis; grandson, Kenny Paul Johnson;  sister, Jean Lewis; brothers-in-law, Gerald Willis and Ronald Earl Mason.

Flowers are welcome or memorials may be made to the Renfrow Youth Center at First Baptist Church, 130 Community Road, Davis, N.C. 28524.

Arrangements are by Munden Funeral Home and Crematory Inc. of Morehead City.  Online condolences may be made at www.mundenfuneralhome.net.

Online condolences may be made at www.mundenfuneralhome.net

Arrangements are by Munden Funeral Home & Crematory, Morehead City, NC.