James Coleman Lee Jr.

LEE, MR. JAMES COLEMAN, JR. Mr. James Coleman Lee, Jr., age 89, passed away on February 28, 2009 at his home surrounded by family. Mr. Lee graduated from Ramsay High School and attended Birmingham Southern and Auburn University leaving to serve his country in the U.S. Air Force in 1943. He became a 1st Lieutenant while in troop carrier command in England. He returned after the war to work at Buffalo Rock Co. In May, 1951 he took over the reigns as President and subsequently purchased the Pepsi Cola franchise, the start of becoming the largest single family owned privately held Pepsi Cola operation in the country. In 1962, Buffalo Rock Company became the first Pepsi or Coke bottler in the United States to own a Dr. Pepper franchise. The next 35 years saw the company increase in size to its present 14 distribution centers in Alabama, Georgia and Florida. At his death Buffalo Rock Company has been in business for 108 years and four generations. Mr. Lee's hard work and success as a business and civic leader has led to numerous awards including the first recipient of the Birmingham Service Award, induction into the Alabama Academy of Honor, Alabama Business Hall of Fame, Beverage Industry Hall of Fame and the 1st bottler to be inducted into Pepsi Cola's Ring of Honor. Other prominent organizations include: President of Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, Operation New Birmingham, Birmingham Metropolitan Development Board, Pepsi Cola Bottlers Assn., Birmingham Southern College Board of Trustees, UAB President's Council. Director of: Compass Bank, Baptist Health Foundation, UAB Health Service Foundation. Member of: President's Cabinet of UAB, South Highland Presbyterian Church and Mountain Brook Club. Mr. Lee was preceded in death by his father, James C. Lee, Sr.; his mother, Elizabeth Turley Lee; his son, Donaldson Bramham Lee (Natalie); and son-in-law, Paul Jenkins. He is survived by his wife, Rose Marie; son, James C. Lee, III (Jodi); daughter, Elizabeth Peyton Lee; sister, Betty Frommeyer; five grandchildren, James C. Lee, IV, Jamie Lee Windham, Cameron and Caroline Lee, and Drew Zakrzewski; and one great-grandson, Jackson Coleman Lee, all of Birmingham. Grateful appreciation to Hope Hospice and Home Options and their care givers: Carol Russell, Annie Johnson, Diane Hinson, Jackie Blender, Maliria Robinson, Sarah Greene, Mary Wood and Pat Brown. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Children's Hospital Foundation, 1600 7th Ave. So. Birmingham, 35233 or Joseph S. and Theresa R. Bruno Cancer Center, 810 St. Vincent's Drive, Birmingham, AL 35205. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, March 4th from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Ridout's Valley Chapel in Homewood. The funeral service will be on Thursday, March 5th at 2:00 p.m. at South Highland Presbyterian Church with burial following at Elmwood Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Ridout's Valley Chapel (879-3401) in Homewood.