WAYCROSS — Mr. Jerald Hugh “Jerry” Lee, Sr., 88, died Saturday, June 17, 2023, at Hospice House Satilla after an extended illness.
Lee was born August 3, 1934, in Bickley to the late Roe Lee, Sr. and Ida Davis Lee. He graduated from Wacona High School in 1952, playing football, basketball and baseball throughout those years for the Wacona Hornets.
Lee was employed by Georgia Natural Gas for 42 years, beginning as a meter reader and retiring as their superintendent of plant operations.
In 2008, Lee was inducted into the Waycross/Ware County Sports Hall of Fame. From his time at Wacona, his first year playing football, they lost all the games. He said, “That won’t’ happen again.” The next years the Hornets won.
After high school, Lee went onto play semi-pro baseball, basketball and fast-pitch for many years. He played with many local teams also. When he played semi-pro, Lee won the Jenkins Award as the team’s Most Valuable Player.
He was co-founder of the Okefenokee Remote Control Club. Lee built many airplanes for this sport and taught others how to build theirs as well. He loved going to the club’s flying field and spending time with his friends and flying their airplanes.
Lee was exceptional at building and woodwork, whether it was a piece of furniture or wooden decorative items. He would always send them to friends and family.
He enjoyed sharing his craft with others, not wanting anything in return, giving them something to remember him by. Give Lee a pocket knife and he could whittle anything.
Lee was a great storyteller, sharing hilarious stories about his years playing sports and his time at the gas company. He particularly enjoyed talking and telling stories about growing up in Bickley.
Lee loved his family and was very devoted to them. His grandson, Jesse, was his heart. He was married to his wife, Jeanette Vining Lee, for 37 years. They enjoyed going to Gatlinburg, Tenn., whether they rode the motorcycle or his wife’s preferred mode of transportation, the car.
In addition to his parents, Lee was preceded in death by his stepson, Mark Tillman; siblings, J.H. Lee, Vincent Lee, Roe Lee, Jr., Kathleen Lee Carter, Mary Lee Harrison; and nephew, Roger Harrison.
Survivors include his wife of 37 years, Jeanette Vining Lee of Waycross; son, Jerald Hugh Lee, Jr. (Penny); grandchildren, Jesse Lee and Justin Lee; step children, Janie McQuaig, Keith Tillman (Janet) and Kevin Tillman (Jackie); step grandchildren, Jena Butler, Marcus Jimmy Tillman, Ty Tillman, Dori Crews, Dylan Tillman, Jayci Tillman and Phillip Wood; step great grandchildren, Edward Tillman, Maddie Johnson, Porter Rozier, Jayla Tillman and Bentley Wood; nieces and nephews, Mary Mills, Roy Henry Carter, Nancy Dees, Stacy Carter, Linda Miller, Angela Lee, Melissa Lee, Tommy Lee, Jake Lee, Sandra Lee and Brenda Lee; and numerous other relatives.
A funeral service will be held today (Wednesday, June 21) at 2 p.m., at Sweat Memorial Baptist Church. Burial will follow in Greenlawn Cemetery.
The family will receive friends beginning at 1 p.m. at the church.
Employees and retirees of Georgia Natural Gas, Okefenokee Remote Control Club and all his sports friends are asked to meet at 1:30 p.m., at the church to serve as honorary pallbearers.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be to Hospice House Satilla, 808 Evergreen Way, Waycross, 31501.
Sympathy may be expressed by posting to his tribute wall, or by viewing the video tribute and funeral service recording at www.musicfuneralhome.com.
Music Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
