LEE "MS. LEE" EMERSON

1922 - 2024

EMERSON, Lee "Ms. Lee" Never say "I have to…say instead 'I get to." Ms. Lee Emerson was born in Cambridge, MA, on December 17, 1922. She passed away in Quincy, MA, on December 23, 2024, at 102 years old. She was raised with three siblings in Roxbury, MA by her parents, R. Ellastine (Lee) and Paul Broadnax, Sr. As professional vocalists and music teachers, her parents instilled in all of their children a love of music, languages and reading. From 1932 until 1977, Ms. Lee sang in church and secular choirs in Boston and Newport, RI. At an early age, Ms. Lee knew that she wanted to be an engineer. After graduating from Girls' High School, she enrolled in a number of courses offered through Northeastern University and M.I.T. in Civil Service Machine Operator Training, General Engineering, Industrial Production Illustrative Drawing and Draftsmanship. These skills helped her gain employment during World War II as a Specialist Engineering Draftsman at the Watertown Arsenal and the Charlestown Navy Shipyard. In 1963, Ms. Lee married Harold "Bunky" Emerson. They raised their three children in the Four Corners area of Dorchester, while Ms. Lee continued to work full-time. For many years, she was a mechanical assembler at Baird-Atomic in Cambridge. Over the next two decades, Ms. Lee was also employed at Cogeneration Management Company in administration, Raytheon as a light chassis assembler and Dynatech as a switchboard operator. A lifelong learner, Ms. Lee continued her education by taking administration and management courses through several local colleges and universities. For over 80 years, Ms. Lee made many contributions in the communities where she lived. During WWII, Ms. Lee was a USO Staff Volunteer. In the late 50s, Ms. Lee and her best friend, Kay Atwood, were Girl Scout Troop Leaders. In 1987, Ms. Lee and her husband became Charter members of AARP Chapter 4685/Grove Hall. She developed the Chapter's "Hooks and Needles" program, where knitters and crocheters met weekly, to create items such as blankets and hats to donate to Boston community organizations. Until two months before her passing, Ms. Lee attended monthly AARP meetings and supported a number of the Chapter's committees. Ms. Lee's proudest professional achievement was creating and overseeing the Broadnax Scholarship Fund, which was the musical legacy of her mother Ellastine. During a 20-year period, the BSF awarded over 120 scholarships and donated many professional-grade instruments to voice and music students at the Roland Hayes School of Music in Boston. Ms. Lee's interests and hobbies were as varied as her career and volunteer activities. For 17 years, she and her husband attended the Montreal Jazz Festival. She loved going to the theater in Boston, especially to see musicals and comedies. Ms. Lee was also an accomplished textile artist, dressmaker and tailor, creating beautiful items for the home, her family and friends. Ms. Lee was predeceased by her mother, Rebecca Ellastine (Lee) Broadnax, father, Paul Leo Broadnax, Sr.; brothers, Paul Leo Broadnax, Jr. and Benjamin Richard Broadnax; sister, Rebecca Ellastine (Broadnax) Scott, husband, Harold S. Emerson; son, Edmond S. Ames. Ms. Lee will be missed by her two daughters, Meri Ames (David Dodwell), Bette (Billy) Roberts; her sister-in-law, Caroline Schwarz-Schastny, her daughter-in-law, Debby Lewis; her three grandchildren, Janra Roberts (Syd Cooney), Kia (Jamar) Wheeler, Jonathan Lewis; her eleven nieces and nephews, Jacquelyn (Juergen) Burghardt, Denise Scott, Kimberly Scott, Michael Scott, Anthony (Dorothy) Scott, Stacy Scott, Christopher (Pamela) Scott, Alyson Scott, Marc Broadnax, Jay Broadnax, Peter Schastny; numerous great-nieces and nephews; and her great-granddaughter, Sylvia Leona Wheeler.

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