Lee Ernest Jay Sr

LEE E. JAY, SR. was born in Roxboro, North Carolina on October 27, 1942 to the late Ruth William Jay and Jessie R. Jay Sr. He was the youngest of seven children. God called him home on Wednesday, August 17, 2022. Lee was raised by his aunt and uncle, Pearl Jay Jeffers and Hughie Jeffers from the time he was 6 months old due to his mother’s untimely death. His stepmother in the person of Hallie Harris Jay was also influential in his life. He was educated in Roxboro Public Schools and graduated from Person County High School in 1961. Lee’s early religious training was rooted in the teachings of the Lawson Chapel Baptist Church in Person County. He always enjoyed singing along with the choir. Years later he joined in fellowship with Emmanuel Temple Holiness Church, under the leadership of Bishop Shantel A. Louallen, where he remained a member until God called him home. It is a special blessing when your occupation is also one of your greatest pleasures. This was the case for Lee. He loved being on the open road driving trucks from coast to coast. He did this for more than 30 years. He was employed by Mayflower, Global, Schneider, Paxton/Atlas, and Murry’s Steaks. His trucker handle was Jaybird. While working for Murry’s Steaks, he met Laverne Henry. He courted her for three years and then asked her to be his bride. Laverne and Lee shared twenty-five years of marital happiness. From this union was born Shanika Lee Jay. Lee also loved to cook. His most requested dishes were chicken and dumplings, sweet potato pie and peach cobbler. Fishing and hunting were among his favorite pastimes, as well as playing checkers and listening to the blues. Lee also loved his dogs, Bear and Kong, which were Chow Chows, and Chewy, his Shih Tzu. Lee was preceded in death by: his siblings, Jessie Jr., William, Charlie, Isadora Jay, and Sue Berta Holloway; son, Kenneth A. Brown, Jr.; father- and mother-in-law, Percy and Bernice Henry; brothers-in-law, Percy Jr., Tyrone, Kevin, and Marvin Jackson, Sr. He leaves behind with broken hearts and memories to cherish forever: his wife, Laverne Jay; his children, Lee Jay Jr. (Ann), Patsy Edwards (Carl Sr.), Shanika Jay; brother, William Harris (Jean); sister, Ann Jay Satterfield; sisters-in-law, Denise Jackson and Pamela Baskerville (Harold, Sr.); thirteen grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives.

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Lee Ernest Jay Sr

October 27, 1942 - August 17, 2022