Dillard "DD" Lewis

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Dillard was a quiet man who lived a simple life.

Charles Dillard Lewis, lovingly known as “”DD” by most of his family, passed away peacefully on Saturday evening, October 31, 2026. He was 83 years old.

Born and raised on Mowbray Mountain, Dillard was a quiet man who lived a simple life. He was happy to share what little he had with anyone who asked and never said a harsh word about anyone.

He had many jobs in his lifetime, from working in the factories and the coal mines. His creativity led him to build a system to supply water to his home from a collapsed mine, but the one that he will be remembered more than the others, was cutting pulpwood. Dillard would take his nephews with him to work and let them earn spending money for the summer. He was a man of great strength, he could pick up a log bigger around than him, put it on his shoulder and carry it through the woods. We’ve always known he was tougher than a Pine knot. Dillard never complained about hurting, not to the doctors or anyone else. Once, he dislocated his shoulder and when the doctors popped it back in, he never even made a sound. If you asked him how he was doing, he would always say, “I’m doing good so fer.”

Dillard never married or had any children of his own, but he helped raised and took care of all of his family. For his nieces and nephews, he was like a father figure, watching over them like they his own children. Dillard loved them dearly and they loved him just as much. One fond memory was of Dillard was taking them swimming and tubing in the Blue Hole at Montlake. He would remove the inner tubes from old tires and inflate them so they could use them as floats. Dillard would move the heavy rocks to create the perfect swimming hole, as he called it, always bringing a bar of Ivory Soap to bathe with because it floats and he jokingly would say “it’s bath day.” He would drive us up the mountain, and we would be in the back of the truck, where he even set up an old car seat, making sure we rode safely while out exploring caves and enjoying nature. We have so many precious and wonderful childhood memories of Uncle Dillard that we will cherish for years to come.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles Edward Lewis and Sarah Margarert (Reynolds) Lewis; his four sisters, Exedine Lewis, who died at the age of two, Neva Jean Johnson, Retha Faye Lee and Sarah Charlene Lee.

He is survived by his brother, Carlos Edward Lewis and his younger brother, Billy Eugene Lewis; several nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family and friends.

The family will receive friends from 11 AM ~ 2 PM Wednesday, November 4, 2026, at the funeral home.

A Celebration of Dillard’s Life will be held at 2:30 PM Wednesday, November 4, 2026, in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Joe Smith officiating. Interment will follow in Granny Walker Cemetery on Mowbray Mountain, Soddy-Daisy, TN with Randy Lewis, Gary Lewis, Braden Yother, Vince Dunn, John Keedy and Dakota Martin serving as pallbearers.

To share your memories of Dillard, please visit www.hamiltonfhofchattanooga.com

Arrangements are entrusted to Hamilton Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 4506 Hixson Pike, Hixson, TN 37343, (423) 531-3975.