LEWIS EARL PITTS
Lewis Earl Pitts, 69, was the second child of the late Louis and Lillie Mae Pitts. Earl was born on Dec. 21, 1949, in Sumter.
He departed this life on Monday, Dec. 9, 2019.
At an early age, he joined Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, where he was a member of the choir and usher board. Earl graduated from Lincoln High School Class of 1968. He then went on to Sumter Area Technical College, where he graduated. In 1972, he joined the United States Army, where he served honorably and bravely in the Vietnam War as a wheeled vehicle mechanic. He was honored with the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and the Vietnam Campaign Medal.
Earl was affectionately known for being a lover of the soft drink Pepsi, alongside with one of his many infamous 64 oz. Big Gulp travel mugs. Earl was also known for his love of motorcycles and station wagons. Earl worked for Canron Tamper Railgroup in West Columbia for more than 20 years. Earl worked many jobs, including apartment maintenance, plumber, electrician, builder, carpentry, welder, repair and etc. He was very mechanically inclined. There wasn't anything that he couldn't fix, essentially a "Master of all Trades." Earl was a self-taught musician and was a member of the band PSI.
Earl was married to the former Shirley Ann Whitmore-Pitts of Columbia, who preceded him in death. During this union, they had two daughters, Lorian Pitts and Leah Whitmore-Pitts. Then his second union to Joan Houston Pitts of Baltimore, Maryland, he had one son, Aaron Justin Pitts, and one stepson, Ian (Kristal) Byrd Sr.
He is also survived by his two sisters, Loretta (Leroy) Williams and Louvander Burgess; his mother-in-law, Dorothy Williams; sisters-in-law, Arlene Williams and Carolyn Dupree Pitts; special grandson, Dorean Pitts-Staley; step-grandchildren, Ian Jr., Riley, Kelsie, Liam and Kylee; special friend, Joyce Fountain; goddaughter, Latonia Williams; as well as a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and classmates.
The family is receiving relatives and friends at the home of Leroy and Loretta Williams, 2785 Pintail Drive, Sumter.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday in the John Wesley Williams Sr. Memorial Chapel, Williams Funeral Home Inc., 821 N. Main St., Sumter, with the Rev. Dr. Anthony A. McCallum, pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church College Place, Columbia, eulogist.
Funeral procession will leave at 10:20 a.m. from the home.
Burial will be at Harvin Cemetery, Canty Lane, Sumter.
Services directed by the management and staff of Williams Funeral Home Inc., 821 N. Main St., Sumter.
Online memorial messages maybe sent to the family at williamsfuneralhome@sc.rr.com. Visit us on the web at www.WilliamsFuneralHomeInc.com.