From what I have read, Lewis went by the name of "Ed" most of his life after becoming an adult. He played violin.

Ed's son Harrison was well known for making cemete crosses and placing them all over the States:
"Sometime around 1940, Mayes latched on to the idea of casting cement. He built a wooden mold and began pouring.

The mold was in the form of a heart, 4 feet tall and 4 feet wide. The post supporting the heart was 6 feet high and 10 inches wide. Three additional feet were buried in the ground, making the one-piece heart 13 feet tall.

That first sign is still standing in the cemetery at Fork Ridge where Harrison Mayes' father and mother, brother and sister are buried on a stark hillside.
You can see it in the cemetery photo.

In 1870, "Ed" is living with his father and mother in Claiborne, TN.

Name: Lewis E Mayes
Birth Year: abt 1869
Age in 1870: 1
Birthplace: Tennessee
Home in 1870: District 11, Claiborne, Tennessee
Race: White
Gender: Male
Post Office: Tazewell
Household Members: Name Age
Johnson Mayes 54
Manerva Mayes 33
George Mayes 18
Louiza J Mayes 16
Anna Mayes 13
Pleasant Mayes 12
Melvina Mayes 8
Deliah Mayes 6
Orlenia Mayes 3
Lewis E Mayes 1

Louis E. Mayes
Home in 1880: District 11, Claiborne, Tennessee
Age: 10
Estimated birth year: abt 1870
Birthplace: Tennessee
Relation to Head of Household: Son
Father's Name: Johnson
Father's birthplace: Tennessee
Mother's Name: Manerva
Mother's birthplace: Tennessee
Neighbors: View others on page
Occupation: At Home
Marital Status: Single
Race: White
Gender: Male
Household Members: Name Age
Johnson Mayes 63
Manerva Mayes 44
Delily Mayes 16
Orlena Mayes 13
Louis E. Mayes 10
Newton T. Mayes 8
Benjamin Andrew Mayes 6
Sterling Mayes 3

After this, I find no records of Lewis going by that name. It appears he is going by the name of Edward. (Granddaughter Gertrude also calls him "Ed")

Name: Edward Mayes
Age in 1910: 40
Estimated birth year: abt 1870
Birthplace: Tennessee
Relation to Head of House: Head
Father's Birth Place: Tennessee
Mother's Birth Place: Tennessee
Spouse's name: Alcie
Home in 1910: Bennetts Fork, Bell, Kentucky
Marital Status: Married
Race: White
Gender: Male
Household Members: Name Age
Edward Mayes 40
Alcie Mayes 30
Harrison Mayes 14
Carrie Mayes 10
William Mayes 8
Zillie Mayes 6
Curtis Mayes 2
John Mayes 7/12

Photo by Zillie's daughter Gertrude Jones of Fairfax, Virginia. She writes photo likely taken in Middlesboro, shortly before his death. Possibly Fork Ridge, TN.

Edd's wife Malinda I Mayes is also buried in this same cemetery along with a son and daughter. Children buried in Fork Ridge nearby:
Deward

Cara