Frank James Lee, Sr.

Frank James Lee, Sr. peacefully departed his earthly home on Saturday, April 27, 2019. His life’s journey began with his twin Jesse, on December 2, 1931 in Vicksburg, Mississippi to the late Daniel Lee, Sr. and Minerva Watson-Lee. Frank’s twin Jesse preceded him in death soon after their birth on December 3, 1931. Growing up in the Mississippi Delta, with his family as sharecroppers, Frank quit school in the 6^th grade to help develop the family’s land. When the waters from the Mississippi River started rising, it began to affect their land, so the Lee family left Vicksburg and migrated to Chicago in 1945.

Frank enlisted in the United States Army in 1950, after leaving a brief boxing career.  He served in the Korean War, receiving the national defense service medal and was honorably discharged in 1953. After being discharged from the Army, Frank married the love of his life, Anne E. Bell in April of 1953, lasting 29 years until her untimely death in 1982. Within this union, three beautiful children were born, Terri Ann, Frank Jr, and Darrin Allen.

Frank accepted Jesus Christ at an early age and served as a faithful member of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Chicago for many years.  He worked diligently at a local Chicago Steel Mill for over 35 years, until his retirement in 1993. Upon his retirement, Frank enjoyed cooking, gardening, and loved watching old black and white movies, westerns, and all sports, i.e. baseball, basketball and football. He was always a man of few words, very humble and didn’t like a lot of attention.

Due to his failing health, Frank moved to Chesapeake, VA in 2016 to live with his daughter Terri and son-in-law, Willie Copeland. While here in Virginia, he made many friends, with his gentle smile and quiet sense of humor. Frank was given recognition for his service to this country, a week before his passing in April 2019, by Sentara Hospice Services.

He left our eyes teary, but our hearts filled with a huge amount of fond memories. He leaves to cherish his memory, two children: daughter Terri (Willie) (Chesapeake), and son Darrin (Chicago). One sister Rebecca, and two brothers; Daniel Jr (Hardy) and Roosevelt (Nick), all of Chicago, Illinois. Four grandchildren, Chavone Lee (Chicago), Julian Copeland (Amber) (Chesapeake, VA), Edward (Lendalle) Lee (Chicago), and Brittani Jones (Theodore) (Chicago); and one great grandson, Julian Selders (Chicago); and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.