'Listen to what he taught us, don't let that die with him,' Local woman shares memories of John Lewi

Thursday, a civil rights icon will be laid to rest.

News 10 sat down with someone living in the Wabash Valley who knew John Lewis first-hand.

Today..

A civil rights icon will be laid to rest.

News 10's jordan kudisch spoke with someone who knew u-s- representative "john lewis".

She's in our studio with what his life meant to her.

Lewis died fighting both pancreatic cancer... and the injustices of the world.

And now you'll hear from someone who got to see what he was like first-hand.

*nat sound* "we need to be free now* j} genuine..

Warm..

Committed..

Those are just a few of the words "theressa bynum" used to describe the life of "john lewis."

T} " i was fortunate enough to meet john when he was a student at the american baptist seminary in nashville."

J} bynum says "lewis" was special..

But didn't realize just how special--at the time.

T} none of us knew he was going to become a great person that he became."

J} both "bynum" and "lewis" we're young activists who apart of many groups... like the n-a-a-c-p.

In april of 19-60..

The home an attorney for the n-a-a-c-p was bombed.

This lead to a peaceful march... that the "two" we're both apart of.

T} "every student besides one class because the teacher wouldn't let the students out of her room... marched out of that school."

J} this was only the start to lewis's battle for change.

T} "he was a model for things we can do.

This is a precious thing that we have.

Listen to what he taught us.

Don't let that die with him."

J} and as he gets laid to rest... she says he left his marks on all of us.

T} "it was just a pleasure to say i knew him some people don't get a chance to do that and i'll always treasure that."

The civil rights icon served 17 terms in the u.s. house of representatives.

Funeral services will be held later this morning-- at "south view cemetery" in atlanta.