Reporter’s note: An educator, loyal husband, athlete, church man and fraternity boy: These are all characteristics of the quite versatile Wilfred Le’nard “Will” Lewis. I’ve met thousands of people in my 22 years of existence and I can only describe Will as the epitome of a decent, strong black man. I heard about Will long before I met him, since his wife, Jessica, is in my sorority’s graduate chapter. Many stories were told about how he has helped transform Thomas County Central High School’s boys basketball team in only two years. So when I finally met him two weeks ago, I felt that it was the perfect opportunity to hear the story from the “horse’s mouth.” I met with Will at his Valdosta home a few days ago and we conversed about things that ranged from sports and education to social issues in the South. Today, meet Will Lewis.

When asked whether he had children or planned to have any in the near future, Will quickly replied, “I don’t have any children, but I would like to have some one day. However, my wife and I are just building our foundation right now and working on ourselves.”

After hearing this, Will’s wife interrupted the interview, exclaiming that the couple did already have one daughter while she pointed to 18 month-old Pepper Lewis. Through glass doors in the kitchen, Little Pepper could be seen on the patio running back and forth around a backyard pool, often pausing to look inside the house and whine. Pepper is the couple’s Shih Tzu.

After recognizing Pepper as part of the Lewis family, the wife agreed that it will be a while before the couple decides to have any human children. She further agreed that they are focused on creating a sturdy foundation. From the looks of things, the two are off to a good start, considering they already own their first home.

A Donalsonville native and the son of Blanche and Winford Lewis, Wilfred Le’nard Lewis came to Valdosta in 1998 as a freshman at Valdosta State University. During his tenure, he was inducted into the Lambda Phi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., a popular historically black fraternity on campus. Will also stayed in touch with his passion, basketball.

“I have always been athletic and I played almost every sport in high school,” Will said. “But I love basketball. I attended Seminole County High School and played varsity ball. We were the state runner-ups my junior year and we became the state champions my senior year.”

Though Will did not play basketball in college, he became an assistant to the VSU Blazers basketball team in his sophomore year and maintained that position until he graduated.

“I did everything the team members did except play and practice.”

Will graduated with his first

bachelor’s degree in marketing and

management in 2003. He decided to re-enroll a year later to obtain a degree in business education.

Although furthering his education was a factor in Will’s choice to remain in Valdosta longer, he met a woman in 2003 who also helped to influence his decision. Will began to date Valdosta native Jessica Hunt, the daughter of Clifton and Linda Hunt, during his senior year. Jessica was also a student at VSU at the time and she, too, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and a minor in sociology.

Will received his second bachelor’s degree in 2006 and then began his career search.

“At that time I was working at Wal-Mart,” Will said. “I also worked with Jessica’s dad at his business, Hunt’s Home Improvement and Lawn Care. How I got hired as a teacher ... it was a memorable process.”