Edith M. Lee

EDITH M. LEE, daughter of the late Peter E. Forrest and Marguerite Wright Forrest, was born March 10, 1924 in Baltimore, MD. She took her flight on Thursday, April 7, 2016 after a short illness. She was the eldest of seven girls. She was fondly known as “Mama Dear”, “Precious Cargo," and "Mother Lee". Edith was preceded in death by: two sons, Peter R. F. Lee and James R. Lee Jr. and three sisters, Doris Queen Boston, Hazel M. Forrest, and Ermon V. Stewart. Edith received her education in the Baltimore City School System. She retired from the Baltimore City School System after twenty-nine years of service as a custodial worker in 1986. After her retirement, she was a volunteer tutor at the Learning Bank, an adult literacy center, for sixteen years. Edith received Jesus Christ as her personal Savior at the young age of sixteen. She later became a member of First Mt. Olive Free Will Baptist Church and served for many years on the Myrtle Gray Nurses Ministry. In 1979, she moved her membership to the New Bethlehem Free Will Baptist Church where she served as President of the James Stepney Nurses Ministry, and Sunday School Superintendent for the last thirty-seven years. In 1943, she met and married James R. Lee. She enjoyed spending quality time with her five children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She found great joy in being with her six sisters, especially during the holiday season. She was famous for her pound cakes that everyone enjoyed and requested her to make for them. She loved playing Scrabble and working crossword puzzles. She received numerous citations and awards from mayors, governors, and community groups for her devoted service to uplift and empower others. She leaves to cherish her memory: daughter, Doris J. Lyles; two sons, Kenneth B. Lee and Paul E. Lee (Carolyn); three sisters, Jean Barber (Ernest), Blanche Singleton (Roosevelt), and Linda Sutton; seventeen grandchildren, twenty great-grandchildren, and six great-great grandchildren; daughter-in-law, Joan Lee; the entire New Bethlehem Free Will Baptist Church family; and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

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Edith M. Lee

March 10, 1924 - April 7, 2016