Preacher Lewis Julius Guthrie

Preacher Lewis Julius Guthrie Pickens, South Carolina Preacher Lewis Julius Guthrie, 73, husband of Shirley Gilstrap Guthrie, was called home to his Heavenly Father Tuesday, November 7, 2017 at his home surrounded by his family. Born in Greenville County a son of the late Austin Woodrow Guthrie and Frances Maybelle Moore Guthrie. As a teenager, Lewis worked in a grocery store and later began working in a textile mill. He met his wife Shirley in November 1968. After a short courtship, Lewis knew Shirley and he were meant to be and were later married on March 1st, 1969. They were blessed with their first child Teresa February 18th, 1970. Riley shortly followed February 15th, 1971. Kristina was born October 30th, 1972 and their youngest child Jason was born August 23rd, 1975. Lewis and Shirley began caring for 2 Papua New Guinean sisters, Lucy and Lydia, in 1988 and later adopted them in 2000. Lewis and his family began attending Roanoke Baptist Church in 1975. On January 14th, 1976 he accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior. He began to feel the Lord's call to preach almost immediately and soon surrendered to it wholeheartedly. He enrolled in Tabernacle Bible College in August of 1976. He graduated 3 years later. While in his second year of bible college he answered the call to missions. After graduating college he was accepted by Baptist International Missions Inc. as a missionary to Papua New Guinea. He immediately began preparation to go to the mission field. After two and half years of deputation to raise support, he and his family arrived to Papua New Guinea on September 16th, 1982. Lewis and Shirley decided to work in the city of Lae, Morobe Province in the north eastern part of the country. He immediately began teaching at Lae Baptist Bible College. Within a week he was working in West Taraka 10 miles outside of Lae. He along with a national preacher started Victory Baptist Church. The church grew their membership to over 200 in attendance within the first 6 years of operation and then later worked at Markham Valley Baptist Church around 15 miles west of Lae. He ministered there 2 years before passing his position to a national preacher and then working in Gabensis 30 miles south of Lae for about 3 years. He later returned to Markham Valley Baptist Church for a short period time. In 2004 he began Mercy Baptist Church about 40 miles west of Lae and ministered there until 2007 when the church was discontinued due to a tribal fight. He also assisted many other churches as a stand in pastor when needed. He maintained his teaching position at Lae Baptist Bible College throughout this time and until his departure from PNG. After dedicating 33 years of his beautiful life to the mission work he loved, he became very ill and had to return to America on April 28th, 2010. Shortly after he was diagnosed with Cancer and Alzheimer's. After a little over 7 years of illness he went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday November 7th, 2017. Lewis was beloved by all who knew him especially his wife, family, and friends. He led many to the Lord and was a champion to the downtrodden. Lewis's sweet and nurturing soul will always be remembered and cherished by those who knew him. Survivors include his wife of forty-eight years Shirley of the home, four daughters, Teresa Frances James of Easley, Kristina Townsend (Phillip) of Pickens, Lucy Apene and Lydia Uteli both of Papua New Ginea, two sons, Riley Lewis Guthrie (Becky) of Pickens, Scott Jason Guthrie (Stephanie) of Easley, fifteen grandchildren, Adrian, Jesse, Alicia, Kiley, Shaaron, Kris, Sylvia, Kenyon, Sierra, Kasey, Landry, Emersyn, Shirley, Baby Girl, Justin, four great grandchildren, Ellysa, Eva, Yasmyn, and Slater, three sisters, Linda Batson (Barry) of Greenville, Shirley Nahhas (Eddie) of Memphis Tennessee, Patty Looper of Pickens, three brothers, Ben Guthrie of Pickens, Randy Guthrie and Jimmy Guthrie both of Greenville. Preacher Guthrie was predeceased by his parents, a brother Harold Guthrie and a sister Darlene Guthrie. Visitation will be 1 pm until 3 pm Friday, November 10, 2017 in the chapel of Mountain View Funeral Home. A celebration of Preacher Guthrie’s life will be held 11 am Saturday, November 18, 2017 at Roanoke Baptist Church. Mountain View Funeral Home is serving the Guthrie family.

Preacher Lewis Julius Guthrie

June 7, 1944 - November 7, 2017