Richard Allen Lewis, Sr. was born and reared in Nashville, Tennessee. He grew up in Lee Chapel A.M.E. Church where his faith was birthed, developed and remains to this day. Dr. Lewis is a graduate of Tennessee State University with a degree in Business Administration. He graduated from John A. Gupton College of Mortuary Science in Nashville, Tennessee and received a graduate degree in Banking from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Dr. Lewis also holds an honorary doctorate degree from Shorter College in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Dr. Lewis is a business man with many outstanding leadership skills. As a banker, he directed the growth of Citizens Savings Bank and Trust Company from a nine million dollar institution in 1978 to a thirty-one million dollar institution in 1984. He organized and implemented the construction of a new bank building and led them to a higher level of service and development.

He currently serves on numerous boards, including the 100 Black Men of Tennessee, Wilberforce University, National and Tennessee Funeral Directors Association and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Dr. Lewis served with the State Board of Regents as the Vice-Chairman (the governing board for 46 educational institutions in the State of Tennessee). He is a long standing member of Leadership Nashville, and a host of other organizations.

Dr. Lewis has received several very distinguished awards, including the Nashville Urban League Guild Award as an outstanding citizen in the field of business. He has also been recognized as an outstanding alumnus of Tennessee State University and the Nashville community.

Richard Lewis was the first African American to own a Shoney’s franchise. He serves as president of Lewis and Wright Funeral Directors, which he has very successfully owned and operated since 1983. He is the president of Captain D’s Restaurant and Transfare, Inc.

Dr. Lewis currently serves as the International Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and a member of the Board of Trustees for Lee Chapel A.M.E. Church. He further serves as a Member of Finance and Administration Committee for the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA.

Dr. Lewis is married to Delorse and they have two sons, Richard II and Michael A.