Lewis Forkner was a founding member of Hollows Baptist Church in Surry County, North Carolina. 27 December 1794, Thomas Adams Word deeded to Lewis Forkner, Edmund Hodges and Obediah Baker, elders of the Baptist Church in Hollows Settlement for the "desire said Word has to promote worship of the only true God and encouragement of schools of knowledge," 10 acres on the waters of Lovins Creek, Middle fork of the Tarrarat River, Donaldson's schoolhouse branch, part of the state of North Carolina granted to Charles Word. The deed specifies that the elders give free privilege of worship of God or other established churches, except when in use by the Baptist church, to keep up schools and by no means to erect a dwelling house, houses of public
drinking or any other practice of immorality.