HOBOKEN — Sara Jane (Dryden) Lee, 78 of Hoboken, passed away Saturday, June 3, 2023 after a brave battle with cancer.
Mrs. Lee was predeceased by her mother Elvire Zangrillo Dryden, a native of Marseilles, France, and her father Marshall Dryden, a WWII veteran from Brantley County.
Mrs. Lee is survived by her husband of 59 years, Oran ‘Mickey’ Lee; their three children, Michelle Joiner (Shane Joiner), Polly Wilson (Scott Wilson), and Mitchell Lee; a sister Frances Bates; and niece Emily Bates. Her pride and joy was her grandson, Parker Wilson, who visited her daily.
Born in New Orleans, Mrs. Lee and her parents later returned to her father’s home in Calvary Community (Brantley County) on land owned by the Dryden family for over 100 years. She was naturally a social butterfly who grew up playing around her mother’s hair salon and family homestead with her sister, Frances, and cousins. Mrs. Lee was later a beauty pageant winner and the basketball manager at Hoboken High School.
After graduating high school, Mrs. Lee fell for the blue-eyed Navy submariner Mickey Lee and married July 3, 1964. She will always be remembered fondly as an amazing wife, mother, friend and ‘Nonna’ who knew how to make everyone feel welcome.
She loved tending to the lilies around her home, decorating for every holiday, collecting antiques, and looked forward to the annual “girls’ trip” with her lifelong friends in search of flea market treasures, lively conversations, and a good cup of coffee or hot tea.
Mrs. Lee was a passionate social worker committed to improving the lives of foster children, veterans, and people with disabilities throughout Georgia. She went to great lengths to make sure foster children had special birthdays and traveled to have new experiences — like the time she took a group of boys on a train ride to Jacksonville to meet the “Hooter Girls”, or when she strapped on a derriere pillow and knee pads so she could join in the fun with her “kids” at King’s Roller Rink.
She was also a well-loved member of Pleasant Valley Baptist Church.
To honor her memory, her family held a celebration of her life at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church, Tuesday morning, June 6, 2023, to focus on the joy she brought to her family and friends.
In lieu of flowers, the Lee Family is requesting a small donation to Foster Cares of Georgia (https://www.fostercares.org/donate-funds).
Otherwise, Mrs. Lee would love an occasional visit at her place of rest at Thomas Cemetery on Miles Still Road – she loved placing seasonal flowers where family and friends are at peace – we are sure she would love the same.
