Tour Director Profile

Get to know the man whose love for Africatown led him to develop tours of the historic town with global cultural heritage resonance.

The Africatown Tour Director and Lead Guide

Jason Lewis Profile

Chief Lewis embarked on a journey as a Tour Guide and Company Director in order to teach people from far and wide about the impactful history of his beloved Africatown. He believes that telling this history will ensure that Africans, members of the African diaspora and all people will learn powerful lessons on society, resilience and history.

Retired to Reconcile

After 24 years of service Chief Jason Lewis, a Native of Africatown is returning home to continue the message of reconciliation he’d read about from a previous generation of Africatown leaders: Henry C. Williams, John Smith, Bill Clark, and Michael Figures. After a visit to Benin, West Africa in 2018, a divine confirmation took place at the Gate of Return in Quidah while gathered with, Vickii Howell of M.O.V.E. Gulf Coast CDC, and Representatives from BUDAL-GIE, promoters of The Benin House Project of which Elie Koukoui was a member. A stone statue displayed a triangle with the word "Reconciliation" at its center.

On July 13th, Chief Lewis, Majeste Dennis, and Prince Ellie gathered in Africatown, to commemorate the work that he and his wife Karen Lewis of New Orleans have been doing in the City of Mobile.

(in an interview) Chief Lewis states, “Growing up in Africatown I lived the 5 Wells principle from MCTS one of which was “Well Traveled”. For 24 years, I’ve traveled the world’s oceans and served God through serving His people, and now focus that service on my home community.

Roots

Chief Lewis’s Roots

Family Ties- Chief Lewis’s uncle Omar Smith a retired Officer of the Law, one of the original spearheads of N.O.W. (Neighborhood Organized Workers, a Mobile-based civil and economic rights organization founded in the late '60s / early '70s) and was instrumental in helping write the funding plan for the Africatown Welcome Center.

Family Ties- Chief Lewis FAMILY migrated from Evergreen, AL
(Ret) Marine Major Joe Womack, President of C.H.E.S.S. (Plateau)
(Ret) Air Force Kernel Roosevelt Lewis Jr., 2nd Generation Key curator for the Tuskegee Museum; “His babysitter was Henry (Hank) Aaron” and extended family lived on the Marshall and Lee compound in Africatown. (Plateau/ Toulminville)
Kernel Lewis- Is married Carolyn Lewis (former) Adams the daughter of Nelson Adams of Africatown the namesake of Nelson Adams middle school and respected Africatown businessman who owned much of the real estate in Africatown.(Carolyn Africatown)
Grandmothers both maternal and paternal were entrepreneurs who opens stores for the community from their homes (The Candy Lady’s/ Freezer Cup Lady) in Plateau and Happy Hills

Father is a standout athlete and graduate of the Last MCTS Class, and the mother First Graduating class VHS and ranked first in her home nursing class (Father Plateau/ Mother Happy Hill)
Cousin, Afia Hooker- African American Owned Sunshine Counseling Center LLC Downtown Mobile and winner of multiple Awards (Magazine Point)
Cousin Mawiyah Duckworth Lawyer (Magazine Point)
Cousin and Son of “Uncle Omar,” Dr. Willie E Smith, Jr., Chancellor- Baton Rouge Community College (Happy Hill)
Cousin, Maurice White- the owner of Big White Wings, voted best chicken wings in Alabama (Prichard Bessemer Projects)

Family Man

Chief Lewis is married to Author and Business Owner Karen Lewis of New Orleans, LA and have 4 beautiful kids Daughters Kennedi, Kyndall, Kensley, and son Jabari Lewis. Chief Lewis has served as the President of the African American Heritage Society while on active duty in Rota, Spain and was an instrumental part of the organizing and execution of the December 6 NAS Pensacola shooting as a Casualty Assistance Officer. His track record as a Sailor has been the gold standard, and he’s now turned his heart to serve to his beloved Gulf Coast.

Chief Jason Lewis (Tour Director and Guide)