Saltville, Virginia

Franklin Emmett Lewis, better known as T-Bone, died April 1, 2026 just a few weeks before his 90 th birthday. He was born April 28, 1936 in Wise, VA to Thomas Emmett(Tebo) and Florence Ellen Mullins Lewis.

He is preceded in death by his parents and four siblings, Golda Kelley (and husband Clyde), Jeannette Mullins (and husband Chester), Mary Nell Lewis, and Ira Joe Lewis; son-in-law, Ray Rolen; mother-in-law and father-in-law Audrey Taylor Montgomery and Ralph Montgomery; nephew, Richard Lee Mullins; and many friends.

He was a member of Allison Gap First Christian Church. He had also attended Madam Russell Methodist Church.

T-Bone was a graduate of Hiwassee College, where he was president of his class and a member of Phi Theta Kappa. He received a B.A. degree from Emory & Henry College and was a star basketball player at both schools. He received a master's degree from the University of Virginia.

His first job, as a teacher and coach, and later as a guidance counselor, was at R.B. Worthy High School in Saltville where he remained for over 30 years. He held many other jobs, including positions with Field Enterprise Corporation, S & L Coal Sales, and Highlands Union Bank. He started the Saltville Progress newspaper and the Shorty's Express train to help support the Saltville Labor Day Celebration.

He was a visionary whose persistence and ability to get things done brought about significant developments in Saltville, the town he loved so much.

He was a long-time Virginia High School League official. He served on the town council one term and was mayor of Saltville for 26 years. He headed and served on many town and county committees.

He was a first-team All-American independent league basketball player. He was a member of the Hiwassee College, Emory & Henry College, and Smyth County Sports Halls of Fame. He brought many professional basketball stars to Saltville as fund raisers for the Saltville-Rich Valley Lions Club, of which he was a member.

He applied for and received a grant to design and implement the Smyth County Litter Attack Program, a very successful project, which helped keep the county clean for many years and provided summer jobs for the county's youth. He also developed a successful anti-smoking campaign and, along with some of his students, traveled to schools and events to educate people about the negative effects of smoking. Many people told him he is the reason they never smoked.

He was a newspaper columnist for the Smyth County News & Messenger, where he wrote the Smyth County Litter Attack Program column, and for the Saltville Progress, where he wrote the Coffee Club column, as well as other articles.

He is survived by his wife, Carolyn Burgess Lewis; daughter, Laura Lewis Rolen; grandson, Jordan Rolen; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Jim and Vicki Montgomery, Bob and Jo Burgess, Myra Jones, and Tanya Burgess Miller; nieces and nephews Elizabeth Lewis Thompson (and husband Malcolm), Amy Lewis, Rebecca Montgomery Arnold (and husband David), Mary Lou Mullins Kilgore, Tim Mullins (and wife Stacey), Kyle Burgess, Kendall Burgess Florer (and husband Michael), Reva Murphy (and husband Charles), David Kelley, Patsy Kelley Browning, Connie Burgess Baisey, Jackie Burgess Spear, Bobby Burgess, Brynn Miller, and Zeb Miller; many great nieces and great nephews; godson, Brandon Nipper; and countless friends.

Visitation will be held Saturday, April 11, 2026 from 6 to 8 p.m. at D.R. Henderson Funeral Home in Saltville, VA. The funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 12, 2026 at D.R. Henderson Funeral Home, with Pastor Stan Dunham officiating. Burial will follow at Elizabeth Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Travis Brown, Terry Burgess, John Clark, Scott Hammond, Mike Hodgson, Mark Nelson, Roger Osborne, Angela Parks Stamper, Tina Hyman Surber, and Kevin Swartz. Honorary pallbearers will be Tim Barbrow, Rick Boucher, Bill Chadwick, Caroll Dale, David Henderson, Peter Huber, Don Little, Ellen Nipper, Con Smith, Don Smith, Sonny Smith, Margaret Tuggle, members of Coach Lewis's basketball teams, and members of the Virginia High School Officials Association who officiated ballgames with him.

Online condolences may be expressed at drhendersonfuneralhome.com. The D.R. Henderson Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Franklin E. "T-Bone" Lewis.