Teatro Anansi was the dream of William Lewis III. He wanted to provide an outlet for children to express themselves whether that was writing, dancing, drama or production. He and his partner/cofounder Antoinette Lakey felt that children have stories and its our job as a adults to provide tools and assist with that creativity.

Bill, graduated from Fisk University in 1960 with a degree in English Literature and Philosophy. He also had a M. Div. from University of Chicago.

His career was vast and varied.  He served as minister to the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Baraboo Wisconsin in the late 1960s, taught English and Theater at Pima Community College in Tucson, and led the nonprofit Karamu House the oldest African American theater in the early 1980s.  In 2002, due to the health of his wife Beverley, he moved to Texas to lead the famed Carver Community Cultural Theatre.  In his final act he returned to his love, teaching.  Previously, he taught at Cuyahoga Community College, the University of Akron, University of Texas San Antonio, Northwest Vista College and lastly Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio where he taught his last class the day he passed.

He was also active in community theater, acting, directing, writing and producing.  In the 1970s he co-founded the Ododo Theater in Tucson, and in San Antonio he served as Artistic Director of the Renaissance Guild, he also served as Executive Director of The San Antonio Dance Umbrella as well as several other small nonprofit theatre arts organizations In San Antonio as well as co-founder of Anansi, the newest San Antonio Theatre Company. One of Bill’s last projects included producing and directing works he co-wrote with his partner Antoinette focusing on the Chitlin’ Circuit in Texas.  

In addition to his partner, Bill is also survived by his daughter Miriam Lewis Raccah, of New York City, son and daughter-in-law David and Anne Lewis of Tucson, Arizona, son, William Webster, sister Martha Lewis Gibbons of Cherry Hill, NJ. Grandchildren, Jordan Amanda Raccah, William Delvaughn, Dakota Shyanne, Trinity Willow and Great-Grandson William Asher.
A public celebration was held at the Carver Community Cultural Center in May 2018.