Terry D. Lewis, who served as Surry County administrator for 16 years, died Jan. 22. He was 82.

Surry County announced his passing on social media.

“Surry County mourns the loss of a remarkable leader, Mr. Terry D. Lewis Sr., whose unwavering dedication and commitment to our community will never be forgotten. Serving as County Administrator from 1988 to 2004, Mr. Lewis guided Surry County through years of growth and progress with integrity, wisdom, and an enduring passion for the well-being of its citizens,” the county posted to its government Instagram account on Jan. 27. “Even after his tenure, Mr. Lewis continued to make a lasting impact as a member of the county’s Economic Development Authority. His vision, leadership, and devotion to Surry County have left an indelible mark on our community, inspiring countless others to serve with the same selflessness and resolve.”

The Smithfield Times reported at the time of Lewis’ hiring in 1988 that he’d been passed over for the job twice before, in 1980 and in 1985, each time ending with the Board of Supervisors selecting another candidate in a 3-2 vote. Among the board members who supported hiring Lewis in 1988 was then-Chairman Walter Hardy Sr., the father of current Bacon’s Castle District representative Walter Hardy Jr.

The Times reported that Surry’s top administrative job, which now carries a six-figure salary, paid $35,000 during Lewis’ first year.

Lewis previously served as Surry County planning director from 1975-78 and had held the same role since 1978 in Isle of Wight before returning to Surry.

His tenure saw the funding of Luther Porter Jackson Middle School, which, according to the Times archives, opened its doors to students in 1995. In 1990, insufficient capacity at Surry Elementary had spurred talk of the need for a new middle school and had resulted in Surry County Public Schools moving its seventh-graders that year to Surry County High School.

His tenure also saw the construction of the county animal shelter, which was built for $168,000 in 1997, according to the Times archives. Prior to its construction, the county’s animal control officers would keep stray and seized animals at the former Rogers Veterinary Clinic in Smithfield.

Hardy Jr.’s predecessor in the Bacon’s Castle District seat, Judy Lyttle, described Lewis as “a great man” and a friend who “did all he could to make Surry County a great place to live.” 

Lewis’ tenure overlapped with Lyttle’s for five years. She was first elected to the board in 1999, making history that year as its first female supervisor. She continued in the role for 24 years through the end of 2023.

There were several projects that began under Lewis’ tenure that weren’t finished until after he left his role as county administrator, Lyttle said. Among these was a renovation of the county courthouse and government complex, which didn’t begin until 2007 and wasn’t completed until 2009 at a cost of roughly $10.7 million.

His tenure wasn’t without controversy at times. In 2003, according to Times reporting that year, Lewis and the supervisors faced pushback by residents who balked at the cost of the then-proposed $4.7 million courthouse expansion and renovation. The county’s response to Hurricane Isabel, which had brought 4 to 6 feet of storm surge to the Virginia coast and left hundreds homeless in the towns of Claremont and Dendron, also drew public criticism that year, prompting Lewis and then-County Attorney Gerald Poindexter to defend the county’s relief efforts. The Times reported roughly 700 Surry County residents had applied for assistance and received a cumulative $1.3 million after Isabel, mostly from federal Small Business Administration loans.

“I had no complaints with Mr. Lewis; I trusted his information,” said Lyttle, who called Lewis a man who “was looking forward, not backward.”

Lyttle said Lewis, outside of his role as county administrator, once headed a civic group that served underprivileged residents of Surry County.

“He was well respected in our community as well as other communities,” she said. “I’m going to miss him.”