Late Civil Rights icon John Lewis honored with new foyer in historic Ross constructing | Information

By Last updated Mar 23, 2021

NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV) – Nashville’s historic Ross building honors late civil rights attorney John Lewis by naming the lobby in his honor and legacy.

To honor his legacy and impact, the Episcopal School of Nashville will be on the steps of the Ross Building at 2:30 pm today to celebrate the inauguration of the new John Lewis lobby.

Nationally known portrait artist, Michael Shane Neal, will showcase his portrait of Congressman Lewis on display in the lobby.

Lewis, the son of a stock trader, was active in the civil rights movement. His transition to full-time physical activity began in 1960 when he helped lead a wave of sit-ins at lunch tables in Nashville, Tennessee. He also took part in marches in Selma, Alabama, and Washington DC

He graduated from Fisk University and the American Baptist Theological Seminary in Nashville. He was elected a Georgia Congressman in 1987 and served until his death in 2020.

Michael Shane Neal is known for his portraits. The original John Lewis painting is now on display at the Smithsonian as part of the National Portrait Gallery’s permanent collection entitled “The Struggle for Justice”.

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