Mourning loss of Christopher Lewis

Christopher Lewis’ family includes wife Amber and children, from left, Caleb, Brooklyn and Madisyn.

Christopher Lewis

Christopher Lewis was among the ‘Prop Daddies’ who performed with Center Stage Dance Co.

By Kathy Chaffin

kchaffin@salisburypost.com

KANNAPOLIS — Rick Pethel arrived at Ruehlen Supply Co. early Monday for his morning cup of coffee.

He and Christopher Lewis, his sole employee and the husband of his niece, met there every morning to talk with fellow plumbers and customers. Rick would drive his blue Toyota pickup, and Chris had the bigger Rick Pethel Plumbing truck. They'd leave the Toyota there and head to their plumbing jobs in the company truck.

On Monday, however, Rick was driving the big company truck, having used it over the weekend to help a friend. Chris was running late, he said, which was unusual.

He was never late.

Rick was talking with his fellow plumbers when one of them received a call on his cell phone and went outside to talk. When he came back inside, the man asked Rick if Chris was driving his Toyota.

"Yes," Rick said.

A blue Toyota truck with plumbing equipment on it had been in an accident on Enochville Avenue, the man said, and it didn't look good for the driver.

Rick tried to call Chris on his cell phone, but there was no answer.

"I couldn't bear to go," he said, "because I knew. He was 15 minutes late."

Two of his plumbing friends left to go to the accident scene. They called Rick on his phone and told him it was Chris in the accident.

He had been killed on impact.

Had it been any other weekday, Chris' 4-year-old daughter, Madisyn, would have been in the truck with him when a Dodge Durango driven by Leslie Matthews of Timway Drive crossed the center line and struck him head on, according to his mother-in-law, Dianne Little. But it was Easter Monday, and Madisyn's day care was closed.

She was on her way to Dianne's house with her mother, Amber, her 7-year-old brother, Caleb, and 11-year-old sister, Brooklyn. Caleb and Brooklyn were out of school, and their grandmother had taken the day off to take them to the North Carolina Zoo.

They had been looking forward to a fun day together. All that changed when Dianne's sister, who lives next door, called to tell her about the accident.

Amber drove around the wreck scene, located less than a mile from their home on Tanglewood Drive, on the five-mile trek to her parents' home in Landis.

"Thank the Lord, she didn't see the truck," her mother said.

Dianne had to break the news to her daughter. "It just shows you that your whole life can change in a matter of seconds," she said.

In Lynchburg, Va., Chris' brother, Bill Lewis, heard the tragic news in a phone call from Amber at around 8 a.m. "I drove over to my mother's and told her," he said. "I didn't want to tell her over the phone."

At age 32, Chris was Anne Lewis' youngest child, Bill said, "so she's taking it really, really hard."

Their father, Edward Lewis, has Parkinson plus syndromes.

"He's pretty much frozen," his son said. "It's been the saddest thing. It's really hard for him to express emotions because of the way the disease has affected him.

"There are hardly any tears, no facial expressions."

Bill drove to his brother's home Monday and spent most of the day with Amber and the children before returning to Lynchburg. He plans to arrive this afternoon with his wife, infant son and parents to receive friends at Whitley's Funeral Home in Kannapolis from 6 to 8:30 tonight.

Shannon Perkins, sister to Chris and Bill, and her son, Johnathan, will be coming from Florida.

"He developed some close friendships over the years," Bill said, "which should be evident because people will be coming from Chicago, New York, Cincinnati ... all over the country."

Amber Lewis said the outpouring of support for her family has been overwhelming.

"The whole community has reached out and helped us," she said, "and I just appreciate it so much. I would like to see that same kind of support for the person in the other car, who I'm sure is going through the toughest time of her life."

Matthews, 35, was returning from chaperoning an all-night youth event at Stallings Baptist Church in Salisbury with three 11-year-olds — her son, Bradley, Michael Fields of Winston Street and Madison Campbell of Wright Road — when the accident happened shortly after 7 a.m.

The head-on collision occurred within a few hundred feet of Timway Drive, where she lives. Both vehicles were estimated to be traveling at the posted 45 mph speed limit.

Trooper M.T. Eason of the N.C. Highway Patrol said Wednesday that she may have blacked out, according to WBTV reports.

The Highway Patrol has cited Matthews with driving left of center and misdemeanor death by vehicle.

Amber said Matthews will heal from her physical injuries, "but emotionally she won't."

When commenters on the Salisbury Post Web site began attacking Matthews, Amber posted a comment in her defense.

So did Chris' mother. "I lost my baby son," she wrote. "It is a very hard time on us all. It is very hard not to look for blame in a time like this, but I do not blame the woman that hit my son.

"All that truly knew Chris would know he does not want the community to take his tragic, untimely death out on this woman."

Chris' family is hurting more than anyone, Rick Pethel said, "but we just can't understand these people that want to crucify the lady."

Chris was a member of the Center Stage Dance Co.'s "Prop Daddies," a group of dancers' fathers who make props for the performances, competitions and floats. Several fellow members called the Post after hearing that a story was being written about him.

They all laughed — and cried — as they recalled stories about their friend.

Greg Seaford said he expected Chris to take over his job as "Head Prop Daddy" when his daughter ages out this year.

"We're so sad to lose him," he said. "I think they needed a new entertainer in heaven and had to borrow him."

Tim Beaver said it will be very difficult for the Prop Daddies to continue without Chris. "He was a wonderful person," he said.

Mark Goss said, "I loved him. He was one of my best friends. We had a blast together. I'm going to miss him very, very much."

Marty Campbell, whose daughter was in the vehicle with Leslie Matthews, said Chris was proud to be a husband and father. "I really feel for the family," he said. "I have a void in my heart right now for him."

Jay Potvin described Chris as "a very fun and happy person" and said he will always remember his smile and willingness to help.

Chris had a passion for life, he said, and loved his family with all his heart. When the Potvins visited the family on Monday, Jay said Caleb started crying and said his father never got to finish the fort he was building for him in their yard.

A roof has since been put on the fort. "People are just chipping in trying to get it finished," he said.

Dr. R.J. Hammond, pastor of Charity Baptist Church, where Chris' funeral will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, said Chris wrote about his life on his Facebook page.

"After high school moved to N.C. where my life really began," he wrote. "Met the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with. We have three beautiful children ... Wouldn't change anything for the world. I love being a husband and Daddy ..."

Hammond said Chris' words speak volumes about the kind of man he was. "I think what he said there shows what a great life he had," he said. "Even though in our estimation, it was cut short, from what he said, he had found what most people never find in a lifetime.

"He was contented and happy."

Amber Lewis said she is grateful to the Post for writing a story about her husband. "This is something I can show to my 4-year-old someday," she said, "and say, 'Honey, look at this. Look what your Daddy meant to so many people.' "

A fund has been established to help Chris Lewis' family. Donors can go into any CommunityOne bank branch and give. Make checks payable to St. Mark's Lutheran Church and write "Chris Lewis Family Fund" in the memo section. Checks can also be mailed to Center Stage Dance Co., 150 S. Bostian St., China Grove, NC 28023.

Contact Kathy Chaffin at 704-797-4249.