Rufus Audrey Lewis, Jr.

Rufus Audrey Lewis, Jr., “Audrey” to his friends, passed away peacefully in Jacksonville, FL on June 07, 2026, after a long illness. He was 94 years old. He is survived by his wife of 74 years, Betty Shaddix Lewis, a sister, Bonnie Berinda Lewis Taylor of Atlanta, GA, two sons, Dale Lewis of Jacksonville and Bruce Lewis of Savannah, and 4 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his daughter Monica, who passed at age 19.

Audrey was born in Largo, FL on February 18, 1932, to Rufus Lewis, Sr and Mary Louise Sommers Lewis. It was the height of the Great Depression, and his parents were working as traveling seasonal fruit pickers when he was born. He spent most of his early life in Sylvania, GA and graduated from Sylvania High School in 1949.

In 1950, at age 18, he enlisted in the U. S. Army Air Corps. He served 4 years in the military police. His service included two overseas postings in Chitose, Japan and he was honorably discharged as a sergeant, with a rank of E4.

In 1952, at age 20, he married Betty Jean Shaddix of Moultrie, GA, who he had met at a square dance less than 6 weeks earlier. The couple built a life together over the course of the next seven decades. Audrey valued independence above all and never wanted to have a job working for anyone else. After the Air Force, he flew as a crop duster and earned a commercial, multi-engine pilot’s license. He and Betty ran a successful beauty shop in Waynesboro, GA, then built and ran a restaurant. He bought and operated shrimp boats on waters from Georgia to Louisiana.

Audrey enjoyed more than 25 years of retirement, traveling in a motorhome, flying his ultralight, building RC model planes, and building a dam on his farm near Girard, GA. He and Betty lived their last 13 years together in Jacksonville, making new friends and enjoying time with their grandchildren.

There will be no visitation. The graveside service will be held at 5:00 pm on Saturday afternoon, June 13, at the family cemetery on Bascom Road in Sylvania, GA. Thompson-Strickland-Waters Funeral Home at 202 Ennis Street, Sylvania, GA will handle the arrangements. Instead of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to either the American Cancer Society or the Alzheimer’s Association.