Lewis Jiles Newcomb

Lewis Jiles Newcomb, 91, of Redwood Community in Durham, passed away on August 14, 2026, at his residence. Mr. Newcomb was born on a farm in Oxford, North Carolina, to the late Wiley Sr. and Mary Elizabeth Humphries Newcomb. Lewis was the fifth of six children.

Lewis is survived by his loving wife, Mildred; son, Gary Newcomb (Ginger Blackwell); daughter, Carol Foster; sister, Alice Faye Land; grandchildren, Stephen Foster (Anna), Andrew Foster (Adrienne), Stefanie Appel (Michael), Kyle Gregory (Lauren), Austin Newcomb (Ashley), and Michael Newcomb; great grandchildren, Tanner Foster, Amelia Foster, Alyssa Foster, Asher Foster, Tayler Meredith, Makayla Appel, Billy Appel, Rhett Appel, Tyler Gregory, Jackson Gregory, Milani Newcomb and Jackson Newcomb; sisters-in-law, Linda Newcomb and Margie Newcomb.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by a daughter, Brenda Gregory; brothers, Wiley Newcomb, Jr., Ed Newcomb, Bob Newcomb, and Jerry Newcomb; and a sister, Florence.

Lewis would eventually quit school between 7th and 8th grade to help out on their farm. One night in the small town of Creedmoor, North Carolina, the Ruritan club held a square dance, and in walked Mildred Brogden. From that moment on, the scene of Lewis’ life was set. I guess here is where one could say the rest was history, but that wouldn’t do justice to the love that was born.

Lewis and Mildred began to date, and in 1951 decided it was time to be married. The two lovebirds eloped with another couple in tow who would later have to forge a signature so that Lewis, a year younger than Mildred, could take her hand in marriage. They lived on his family’s farm for that first year until Lewis decided he was done and took a job running a route for Pepsi-Cola.

In 1954, Lewis welcomed his first child with Mildred. They would go on to have two daughters and a son before their family was complete. Mildred finished school and went to work for an insurance firm, and Lewis would eventually move to a job as a mechanic for the North Carolina State Department of Transportation, giving a nod to Glenn Cruise for teaching him everything he knew.

As time tends to do, it marched on into the ‘70s when Lewis would reach a new milestone - granddad. He would go on to have 6 grandkids and 12 great-grandkids, each new role a testament to the reward in the choice to stay through good times and bad with the woman you marry at 16 years old.

One of the worst tragedies to befall Lewis was the sudden loss of his youngest daughter Brenda in 2023. A man of faith through and through, Lewis leaned on the Lord, his family and the best of friends to get him through. And in the still quiet hours of the morning on August 14th at home with his wife of nearly 75 years beside him, he slipped from this world into the presence of his Heavenly Father. Reunited with his best friend, all his brothers, and his beloved daughter, Lewis is resting in his reward of a life well lived.

Those of us he left behind will miss so many things - that burgundy ranger racing up and down the streets of the Redwood community; taking off to Emerald Isle for a day or two of fishing; phone calls to come pull his mower out of the ditch. His great grandkids kept him going from one ball field to another over his last decade here. And we rejoice in knowing he’s got the best sideline seat in the house now, as much yard as he could ever wish to mow, and waits to meet us on the shores of eternity with a fish story or two to tell.

A visitation will be held on Monday, August 17, 2026, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Hudson Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, at 2 p.m. at Plainview Baptist Church. Burial will follow at Cannady Brogden Family Cemetery.

Officiating will be Reverend James Quinn and Reverend Brent Kasey.

Pallbearers will be Stephen Foster, Andrew Foster, Tanner Foster, Kyle Gregory, Austin Newcomb, Michael Newcomb, Michael Appel and George Woods.

Honorary pallbearers will be Tyler Gregory, Jackson Gregory, Billy Appel and Rhett Appel.