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Home
> Forrester A. Lee, Sr.
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Memorial for Forrester A. Lee, Sr.
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Born in Gallipolis, GA on Oct. 31, 1916
Departed on Oct. 2, 2014 and resided in Claymont, DE.
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| Visitation: |
Monday, Oct. 6, 2014
10:00 am - 10:45 am
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| Service: |
Monday, Oct. 6, 2014
11:00 am
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| Cemetery: |
Gracelawn Memorial Park
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Please click on the links above for locations, times, maps, and directions.
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Forrester Ashe Lee, Sr. passed away on October 2, 2014 at the Seasons Hospice and Palliative Care in Newark, DE in his 97th year after a short illness. He was born in Gallipolis, OH on October 31, 1916, the youngest of four sons of Benjamin Franklin Lee, Jr. and Mary Ella (Mossell) Lee.
His family has strong roots in the A.M.E. Church. He was the grandson of Rev. Benjamin F. Lee, D.D, an A.M.E. Bishop. His mother, who was born in Haiti, was the daughter of Rev. Charles W. Mossell and Mary Ella Forrester who were A.M.E. Church missionaries to Haiti.
Forrester, who was known to family and close friends as Billy, was raised in Cincinnati, OH. He graduated from Walnut Hills High School before attending Wilberforce University where he pledged Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. After graduating in 1940 he completed Masters degree studies at Ohio University. On July 5, 1942, he married his college sweetheart, Jeanne Catherine Robinson of Cincinnati, OH. He then joined the Navy in World War II and was stationed in San Diego, CA where his son, Forrester Jr., was born in 1945. His daughter, Marian, was born two years later.
Billy's professional career was dedicated to service in African American communities through the Y.M.C.A., starting in Columbus, OH and Wilmington's Walnut Street Y.M.C.A. In 1950 he was appointed Executive Secretary of the Y.M.C.A. in Red Bank, NJ. Four years later, he continued in the same position at the Y.M.C.A. of Plainfield, NJ. In 1964 the family moved to Claymont, DE, his home for 50 years. After retiring from the Y.M.C.A., he worked part-time for ICI Americas, Inc. and led an active civic life through his church, the Episcopal Ascension Church of Claymont, DE, the Lion's Club of Claymont., and the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity of which he was a Life Time Member.
Jeanne, his wife of 68 years, pre-deceased him in 2010. He is survived by his son, Dr. Forrester A. Lee, Jr., a professor and dean at Yale Medical School in New Haven, CT; his daughter Marian M. Lewis of Baltimore, MD, an award winning journalist and poet; his grandchildren NTanya R. Lee of Berkeley, CA, Dr. Aki S. Puryear of St. Louis, MO, Love L. Streams of Playa Vista, CA, Dr. Alicia V. Lee of Richardson, TX, Martina M. Smothers of Claymont, DE,, and Tanner A. Lee of Hamden, CT; 11 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. He is the beloved patriarch of an extended family of relatives, god-children, and friends whose diverse lives give witness to his lifetime of service.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM, Monday, October 6, 2014, at the Church of the Ascension, 3717 Philadelphia Pike, Claymont, De. There will be a public viewing from 10am until 10:45am only. Interment will follow with immediate family members in attendance at Gracelawn Memorial Park, 2220 North Dupont Highway, New Castle, Delaware. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Wilberforce University, Scholarship Fund, https://giving.wilberforce.edu.
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