Memorial services for Rev. Lewis Paul Vehaun, 88, of Rock Hill, SC will be held on Wednesday, September 11, 2024 at 11:30 am at Northside Baptist Church, 1140 Curtis Street, Rock Hill, SC with Dr. Jerry Sosebee and Dr. Scott Davis officiating. The family will receive friends beginning at 10:00 am in the church sanctuary.
Rev. Vehaun, preceded in death by his parents Ernest and Ruth Vehaun, was born on April 14, 1936 in Spartanburg, SC and passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 7, 2024, after a brief illness. He leaves behind his wife, Janice C. Vehaun his faithful partner in life for 60 years, two sons David B. Vehaun (Kim) and Paul A. Vehaun (Susan) of Rock Hill, three grandchildren Scott Vehaun (Karley) of Daufuskie Island, Mark Vehaun (Kristin) of Clemson, and Jonathan Vehaun (Hannah) of Atlanta, and four great-grandchildren (Saylor, Oakley, Bodie, and Grace).
Rev. Vehaun received a B.A. in History from Furman University, a Master of Divinity from Southeastern Seminary, and a Doctorate of Ministry from Mid-Atlantic Schools. He served churches in Spartanburg, SC, Fruitland, MD, Germantown, MD, Clifton, SC, Socastee, SC, and Emmanuel Baptist Church in Rock Hill where he served as Senior Pastor for 28 years until his retirement. He also served interims at Union Baptist Church in York, SC, West Side Baptist Church in Chester SC, and McConnells First Baptist Church in McConnells, SC.
Rev. Vehaun served the community in a variety of ways. He was one of several pastors asked to organize the chaplaincy program at the Rock Hill Police Department in the 1970s and he offered morning devotions at the Rock Hill Boys Camp for many years. He also served on the Board of the SC Law Enforcement Chaplains Association and was Chaplain Emeritus of the Rock Hill Police Department. He was one of the founding leaders of Rolling in Rock Hill, an active member of the YMCA for many years, a longtime member of Kiwanis, and offered leadership in organizing the Catawba Terrace Neighborhood Association. Following his retirement, he was a faithful member of Northside Baptist Church where he continued to share his gift of biblical teaching through a variety of bible studies.
Rev. Vehaun will be remembered by his congregations for his faithful teaching of the scriptures, by his community for his selfless service to those in need, and by his family for his loving role later in life as Paw Paw.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Rock Hill Police Department Worthy Boys and Girls Camp, PO Box 11706, Rock Hill, SC 29731 or the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, c/o Northside Baptist Church, 1140 Curtis Street, Rock Hill, SC 29730.