Rev. Larry Darnell Lewis was born in Charleston, Mississippi, and raised in East St. Louis. Currently pastor of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Champaign, he is married to Delores Lewis and they are the parents of three daughters and two grandchildren. Rev. Lewis earned a B.S. from the University of Illinois and a M.A. in Social Justice Profession from the UI‐Springfield. He then worked for 33 years with the Illinois Bureau of Disability Determination Services. He is currently pursuing a Master’s of Divinity from Payne Theological Seminary. Pastor Lewis serves in his church by being Chairman of the Ministerial Efficiency Committee, Chairperson of the Presiding Elder Support Committee, Treasurer of both the 4th Episcopal Conference Finance Committee and the Illinois North District. Reverend Lewis civic activities include working with Illinois One Family One Child for almost ten years and presently serving on the board of directors as secretary; serving as secretary, parliamentarian and social action chairperson of the Ministerial Alliance of Springfield and Champaign. He has also served as second vice president of NAACP, Champaign County.

Larry was featured in Difference Makers 2010: An eBlack Champaign-Urbana Publication.