Farmer’s Seed to Success Foundation
Founded by the Alumni Brothers of the Gamma Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the Farmer’s Seed to Success Foundation was established in loving memory of Lewis L. Farmer, an educator, mentor, and lifelong advocate for student success.
Rooted in the belief that education is meant to be shared, cultivated, and passed forward, the Foundation exists to support young men who demonstrate academic promise, leadership potential, and a commitment to uplifting their communities.
Lewis Farmer believed that knowledge was not something to be guarded, but something to be given freely. Through this scholarship, his legacy lives on by removing barriers to education, opening doors of opportunity, and planting seeds that will grow into future leaders.
Legacy. Scholarship. Community.
These are not just values. They are the work.
His Story
Lewis “Lew” Farmer was a devoted educator, mentor, scholar, and community leader whose life embodied the highest ideals of scholarship, service, and brotherhood.
A native of Richmond, Virginia, Lewis graduated from John F. Kennedy High School, where his passion for learning and leadership first took root. That passion would guide him throughout a career dedicated to education and mentorship.
Lewis went on to become a mathematician and professor at Virginia Union University, where he committed himself to educating, uplifting, and empowering students. Known for both his intellectual rigor and his unwavering compassion, he ensured that every student he encountered felt seen, supported, and capable of excellence.
As an initiate of the Gamma Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Lewis lived the fraternity’s motto through action: manly deeds, scholarship, and love for all mankind. He believed deeply that knowledge should never be withheld. Instead, he carried a responsibility to share wisdom, often reminding others:
“What good is it for me, if I don’t pass it on?”
Lewis led with integrity, humility, and purpose. To his students, fraternity brothers, and community, he was both a guide and an example. His life reflected a steadfast belief in the transformative power of education and the responsibility we all share to lift as we climb.