Mary Caudill Lewis Johns

Mary Caudill Lewis Johns of Emporia, Virginia passed away on December 26, 2013.

Mary Caudill was born on April 3, 1927 in Daytona Beach, Florida, the daughter of Edison and Mary Earle Lewis. She spent her childhood and early youth in Whitesburg, Kentucky before moving to Georgetown, Kentucky where she graduated from Garth High School in 1944. Upon graduation, she joined her family in Remington, Virginia and enrolled in Mary Washington College, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1948. She worked for approximately two years as a laboratory technician at a medical clinic in LaGrange, Georgia before becoming Promotional Secretary for the First Baptist Church of LaGrange. Feeling the need for additional training, in the fall of 1951 she enrolled in Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, where she earned her Masters degree in Religious Education in 1953. It was at the Seminary that she met her husband-to-be, Robert Johns.

After graduating from the Seminary, Mary Caudill moved to Hampton, Virginia to be with her mother as she adjusted to Edison’s death. During this time she served for a short time as Education Director at Memorial Baptist Church of Hampton. Caudill and Robert Johns were united in marriage on December 29, 1953, and she joined Rev. Johns in his ministry in eastern North Carolina. One son, Robert II, was born in Ahoskie, North Carolina before the family moved to Biscoe, North Carolina where two more sons, Wilton and Lewis, were added to the family. The family moved to Hopewell, Virginia in March of 1963. While there a daughter, Harriet Lea, was born—she was a child with multiple handicaps who required special care and education. On December 1, 1967 the family moved to Emporia, Virginia where her husband pastored Calvary Baptist Church for more than twenty years. After retiring from Calvary Baptist, Mrs. Johns joined her husband as he served as supply pastor for several churches in the area including Zion Baptist Church of Skippers, Virginia.

Caudill served in many positions of leadership in Ashley’s Grove and Menola Baptist Churches in eastern North Carolina; in Biscoe Baptist Church in Biscoe, North Carolina; in Woodlawn Baptist Church in Hopewell, Virginia; in Calvary Baptist Church in Emporia, Virginia; and in Zion Baptist Church, also in Emporia. She taught in the public schools of North Carolina for several years and, after Harriet entered Howell’s Child Care in LaGrange, North Carolina, began teaching in the Greensville County public school system around 1974. While teaching she enrolled in Virginia Commonwealth University earning a Masters Degree in Special Education with endorsements in Mental Retardation, Learning Disabilities, and Emotional Disturbance. During her time in the public education system, she recognized that there were private school students with special learning needs as well, and began working with these students enrolled in Brunswick Academy.

Upon her retirement from both public and private schools, she became a full-time homemaker, and has concentrated on service in local churches, the Emporia-Greensville community and the regional Baptist Association.

Caudill was preceded in death by her daughter, Harriet Lea Johns in 2003; and two brothers: Ted Lewis of Austin, Texas and Howell Lewis of Williamsburg, Virginia. She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Robert; three sons: Robert (Cathy), Wilton (Caroline), and Lewis (Christine); special cousins Marie Spragens and Joy Barlow, both of Kentucky; and six grandchildren: Robert, Wil, Carrie, Kyle, Naomi, and Esther.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 28 at Zion Baptist Church (Zion Church Road, Skippers, Virginia) preceded by visitation from 12:30 to 1:45. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Zion Baptist Church (c/o Cliff Rodgester, 654 Johnson Road, Emporia, VA 23847) or to the church or charity of your choice.