Legacy of Roanoke’s John Lewis lives on with creation of new healing center The project is expected to be completed by August Tags: Honoring the life of John Lewis SHAWSVILLE, Va. – Dozens of people came together Saturday to honor the life of a Roanoke man who dedicated his life to serving the community. Paying tribute, family and friends sang together to honor the life of John Lewis, who died when he was 37. He was a servant to the community and left an impact on everyone he knew. In 2016, Lewis returned to Roanoke to run the Apple Ridge Farm to enrich and educate underserved children. It’s a passion that his friend, Cosha Gordon, said will be seen across generations.