Rose-Mann Chapel
Llewellwyn "Lew" Elliott Weems died on November 11, 2024 at the age of 86. He considered his given name to be too long and clumsy, so he took his initials and created the name that served him throughout his life.
He was born in Johnson City, Tennessee on August 22, 1938 as the third son of Wilbur and Helen Worley Weems. He is preceded in death by brothers, Worley Weems and Harry Weems, and is survived by sisters, Sharon Hutchison and Theodosia Smith, both of Jonesborough.
In August 1956, he married his third-grade sweetheart and love of his life, Janice Walsh. Together, they were blessed with three children, Richard Weems of Telford, TN, Thomas Weems (Betsy) of Johnson City, TN, and Leslie Buckner (Bob) of Knoxville, TN.
He is also survived by ten grandchildren (Aubrey Weems, Cody Weems, Dominic Weems, Maili Weems, Britton Weems, Ben Weems, Andrew Weems, Haley Buckner, Emily Buckner and Meg Buckner) along with great grandchildren (Kaiden Murphy, Ellie Weems, and Nash Rodgers).
He began his banking career in January 1957 as a teller trainee with The Banking & Trust Company of Jonesborough. In 1972, the family relocated to Johnson City, and shortly thereafter, Lew was named President of the Johnson City Region of First Tennessee Bank. In 1983, First Tennessee announced the pending acquisition of The Bank of Maryville, and Lew was asked to relocate and become President of that institution. In 1992, the family relocated to Knoxville when Lew was named President of the East Region of First Tennessee. He held this position until his retirement in January 2003.
Active in community affairs, he served as Chairman of the Blount County Chamber of Commerce, Director of Maryville College, Chairman of the Knox County Industrial Development, Chairman of the Health, Education Facilities Board of Knox County, Director of East Tennessee Foundation, member of the Finance and Audit committees of Catholic Healthcare Partners (Cincinnati, Ohio), Chairman of St. Mary's Health System and President of Cherokee Country Club. He and Janice are members of St. John's Episcopal Cathedral.
A private memorial Service will be held at St. John's Episcopal Cathedral. A Celebration of Life reception will be held at Cherokee Country Club on Sunday, November 17th from 2-4pm. Online condolences may be expressed at www.rosefuneraltn.com
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