Lewis Clements Sr.

Lewis Frederick Clements Sr., 74, of Chester, passed away Thursday, February 7, 2013. "Fred" was born in Petersburg in 1938. He received his bachelor's degree in Music Education from Richmond Professional Institute and his Master of Music in theory with applied major in organ from Virginia Commonwealth University. Fred served in Christian music ministry in the Petersburg/Richmond area from his high school days until he retired at age 72. While he was the full time Minister of Music and Organist at Chamberlayne Baptist in Richmond, he designed the chancel and original eleven-rank pipe organ for the sanctuary dedicated in 1964. He also served as Director of Music for Colonial Heights Baptist Church and Minister of Music for First Baptist Church in Petersburg. Subsequently, for six years Fred was the Music Director and Organist at Washington Street Methodist Church in Petersburg, where he conducted the yearly community performance of Handel's Messiah. Fred retired from church music ministry in 2010 after serving at Branch's Baptist Church in Richmond. For many years, Fred also was an instrumental music teacher in the Richmond and the Colonial Heights Public Schools, and while in Colonial Heights, he developed the string/orchestra program. Simultaneously with performing his other music activities, Fred privately taught and mentored many young piano, organ and voice students, last teaching at Music Studies Unlimited in Chester. Fred was preceded in death by his parents, Leroy F. and Rachael W. Clements; brother, Richard Franklin Clements; and son, David Scott Clements, Sr. (Debra L.). He is survived by his wife, Shirley Beasley Clements; son, Lewis Frederick Clements, Jr. of Jacksonville, Alabama; sister, Nellie C. Landrum (James H.) of Lottsburg; and grandchildren, David Scott Clements, Jr. of Richmond and Rebecca Lynn Clements of Powhatan. A funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, February 9, 2013 in the Colonial Heights Chapel of the E. Alvin Small Funeral Homes & Crematory, 2033 Boulevard with the Reverend Mathew Brown, the pastor at Branch's Baptist Church, officiating. Interment will follow in Blandford Cemetery, Petersburg. The family will receive friends from 6 to 7:00 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, Greater Richmond Chapter, 4600 Cox Road, Glen Allen, Virginia 23060, or a charity of the donor's choice.