Photo courtesy of Music Funeral Home - Waycross
Hoboken, Georgia
Jul 20, 1934 – Nov 1, 2016 (Age 82)
Mr. David J. "Johnny" Lee, 82, died Tuesday (November 1, 2016) evening at his residence following a short illness. He was a native of Hoboken and lived most of his life there. He was the former manager at SCL Credit Union and Gilman Credit Union. He was the owner of Lawn Equipment Enterprises, Inc. and was currently serving on the Board of Directors of First Southern Bank. He was a member and pastor at Rome Primitive Baptist Church and was a life long singer and lover of Sacred Harp music. He was the son of the late Frank Thomas Lee and Martha Dixon Lee. He is preceded in death by two brothers, Herman Lee and John Thomas Lee, Sr.; two sisters, Mildred Hickox (husband Billy) and Ruth Wainright; and a brother in law, James Douberly. He is survived by his wife, Delorese Conner Lee; a son, David Lee (wife Kathy) of Hoboken, GA; four daughters, Delda Lee of Conyers, GA, Arlene Holloway (husband Michael) of Birmingham, AL, Sonya Lee of Waycross, GA, Melinda Lee (fiancé Michael Brooks) of Hoboken, GA; 11 grandchildren, Bryant Lee (wife Amy), Hannah Gunter (husband Robert), Rachel Baxley (husband Justin), Tatum Strickland, Brooks Strickland (wife Jessica), Lindsey Morgan (husband David), Trevor East (fiancée Melissa Dupree), Kendra Strickland (fiancé Travis Sanctuary), Dinah East, Logan Lee, and Spencer Lee; 9 great grandchildren, Bailey, Audrey, Phillip, and Declan Lee, Holland Gunter, Gavin, Zane, and Madelyn Baxley, and Eliot Strickland; 2 brothers, Eddie Lee (wife Juanita) and Billy Lee (wife Barbara) both of Waycross; a sister, Anna Sue Douberly of Thomasville; a brother in law Wilson Wainright of Nahunta; two sisters in law, Connie Lee of Hoboken and Adelyn Peacock Lee of Waycross; and numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and other relatives. A funeral service will be held Friday (November 4, 2016) at 10:00 AM at the Music Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in High Bluff Cemetery. The family will receive friends Thursday evening from 6-8:00 PM at Music Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to Hospice Satilla, 808 Evergreen Way Waycross, GA 31501 or the USO, Department WS P.O. Box 96860 Washington, DC 20090-6860. Sympathy may be expressed by signing the online registry at www.musicfuneralhome.com. Music Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
It was a blessing for us to know this gracious and loving man. He shared his music, his home, his experiences, his amazing sense of humor, and the kindness that found him reaching out to these strangers and treating us as though he had grown up with us as family. He glowed, and we loved him. We hope to meet him again in that better land. Marcia and Ted Jonson
Marcia and Ted Johnson, Chicago, IL
December 08, 2016
I was blessed, as so many of us were blessed, to know Johnny Lee. We lived several hundred miles apart, so I didn't see him as often as I would have liked; but I loved to see him, talk with him, sing with him. He reached out to me, and to others with warmth, hospitality, and integrity. I thought, from the first time I met him, "this is a man who can be trusted." I will miss him. I hope to sing with him again.
Phil Summerlin
November 17, 2016
My sympathies to the Lee family. I attended several Hoboken sings and met several of the Lees there. I have left Atlanta for Tucson but still sing and still remember Johnny Lee and his great singing family.
Eleanor Soler
November 17, 2016
I just learned of Johnny's passing. I admired and loved this spiritual man as a person and in his singing of Sacred Harp. "Hebron" Johnny. Condolences to all the Lees. Mel K. Mel Kersey
Mel Kersey
November 10, 2016
Mr. Johnny was an inspiration to me every time he and his beloved wife Delorese visited our convention in Minnesota. What a gift we received to experience his singing, infused with devotion.
Early on I made a calligraphy as a gift to his family of "The Royal Band" - Cooper Book, p. 360. Their response was so touching and warms my heart to this day. Bonds of Love. My sincere sympathy to the Lee's and their extended family.
Christine Stevens
November 05, 2016
I feel fortunate that I got to meet him and sing with him. He was a gracious and unselfish leader -- I remember him leading a song by request at a social, even though his voice was tired. But I think he understood that singers who didn't grow up in the Sacred Harp tradition have a real hunger for that experience, and he was generous in sharing with us. Sympathy to the Lee family in your great loss.
Stacey Berkheimer
November 05, 2016
I was so sorry to hear of Johnny's passing; I will miss him. We Minnesota singers loved it when he and Delorese would oome up for our February singing. My heart goes out to Delorese, David and Kathy, and all the rest of the family.
Eleanor Haase
November 05, 2016
May God Bless you in your time of loss. Your family was close and so full of love. I wish I could be there to support you, my dear friend Sonya. But I send love and hugs your way. This man was truly a blessing for his family. Always remember the wonderful moments. â¤ï¸
Lynn Johns Caudle
Lynn Johns Caudle
November 04, 2016
Johnny left me with a visual image of my Mother I had never know before her death. He recalled first seeing his Aunt Vannie walking over a hill holding on to books of all sizes. He referred to her as a scholarly student. It has been many years since her death, but I sometimes see her through Johnny's eyes and it encourages me. It's always meaningful how others see our love ones. My prayer is that Johnny's smile and kindness to others will live on as his legacy through his sweet family....
Patty Crews Magee
November 04, 2016
