Tallahassee native George Edward Lewis was born on April 3, 1880, and attended the West Florida Seminary (now Florida State University) before transferring to the Virginia Military Institute, where he graduated in 1900. He worked his way up from bookkeeper at Lewis State Bank and eventually became president of the organization in 1933. In 1942, Lewis was appointed to the Leon County Commission for an unexpired term by Florida Governor Spessard Holland after Commissioner L.C. Tully resigned to join the U.S. Army during World War II. Lewis assumed the role on March 7, 1942 and served for two months before resigning to focus on his work at the bank. He was succeeded by T.D. McCracken.
Lewis was active in the community, serving as president of the Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce, treasurer for the Tallahassee Volunteer Fire Department, and a member of the executive committee of the Suwannee River Council and Boy Scout Region 6.
He died on March 18, 1972, in Tallahassee at the age of 92.