Grand Secretary

On Saturday, November 11, 2023, during its 245th Grand Annual Communication, the Grand Lodge of Virginia elected Jack Kayle Lewis, of Blairs, Virginia, to serve as its 178th Grand Master of Masons in Virginia for the 2023–2024 Masonic Year.  Following his term as Grand Master, Brother Jack was elected to serve the Craft as Grand Secretary.

Jack Kayle Lewis was born on August 6, 1954, in Danville, Virginia, the son of the late Ben Barker Lewis and Violet Newton Lewis. He was named to honor the memory of his father's younger brother, Jack Kayle Lewis, who was lost in action over the North Sea on July 28, 1943, when the B-17 aircraft he was a gunner in was shot down during a daylight bombing campaign in World War II.

Young Jack grew up in a home near Danville in Pittsylvania County with his parents and two sisters, Pat and Kristie. Summers were spent in activities at Kentuck Baptist Church, youth sports, and tobacco farming—the primary crop of southside Virginia. School days for the Lewis children were spent at Dan River Elementary and then Dan River High School, where Jack graduated in June of 1972 as class president.

After high school, Jack enrolled in Danville Community College in 1973. Over the next 30 years, he attended four colleges and universities. He was awarded an Associate’s Degree in police science from Danville Community College, a Bachelor's Degree in criminal justice administration from Averett College, and a Master's Degree in sociology from Longwood College in May 2002.

Brother Lewis began his law enforcement career with the North Carolina Department of Corrections in 1974. The following year, he was appointed a police officer for the City of Danville and named "Police Officer of the Year" in January 1977. In 1978, he was employed by the Lynchburg Police Department, serving in a variety of assignments until his retirement as Deputy Chief of Police in 2005. On March 28, 2005, Brother Lewis was sworn in as the Chief of Police for the Town of Apex, North Carolina, and served that community until his retirement in 2013.

During his law enforcement career, he attended numerous professional development and leadership programs. He graduated the School of Police Staff and Command at Northwestern University and the Police Executive Leadership School at the University of Richmond. Brother Jack is a life member of the International Association of Police Chiefs and the North Carolina Police Chiefs Association.

Brother Lewis was Raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason in Kent Lodge No. 305 on April 28, 1980, in the new Lodge Hall he helped to construct, thus becoming a third generation Master Mason following his grandfather, Artwin S. Lewis (1943), and father, Ben B. Lewis (1971). Jack served as Worshipful Master in 1984, 1988, and 2013, and was chosen to represent Kent Lodge when appointed by Most Worshipful Wayne Sawyer Flora as District Deputy Grand Master for the 38th Masonic District in 2014. He then served the 38th District from 2015-2018 as the District Education Officer and as Lodge Secretary from 2015–2022. In November 2016, Brother Lewis was appointed Grand Junior Steward for the Grand Lodge of Virginia by Most Worshipful Vernon Stuart Cook. At the Grand Annual Communication in November 2017, Brother Lewis was elected Grand Junior Deacon for the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge, A.F. and A.M., of Virginia.

Brother Lewis has been a member of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Valley of Lynchburg, since 1981. He was honored with the title of Knight Commander of the Court of Honor in 2019. Brother Lewis is a member of Acca Shrine in Richmond, the James Monroe Chapter No. 549 of the National Sojourners, and the Jack Jouett Camp of the Heroes of ’76.

Additionally, Brother Lewis holds memberships in Pittsylvania Lodge No. 24, Andrew Jackson Lodge No. 120, Great Bridge Lodge No. 257, Anderson Lodge No. 258, Carter Lodge No. 323, George Washington Lodge of Research No. 1732, and Civil War Lodge of Research No. 1865.

Jack Kayle Lewis and Barbara Faye Holland were married on January 4, 1976, at Oak Grove Baptist Church. Their son, John Benjamin Lewis, was born in 1981 and graduated from Longwood College and the Florida Coastal School of Law. He proudly served in the United States Marine Corps and was promoted to Sergeant while serving in Iraq in 2005. Tragically, the effects of his service left him with many scars, as he suffered from both Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and a Traumatic Brain Injury. Despite many programs and much professional assistance, he lost his battle on June 8, 2023. Jack and Barbara are the proud grandparents of three: Charlotte Paige Lewis, Jackson Bennett Lewis, and Holland Angeline Lewis.