Mr. Tommie Lee, Jr. was born on January 12, 1939 in Darlington, SC to the late Deacon Tommie Lee, Sr. and Deaconess Lula Jerry Lee. He departed this life on December 14, 2020 at Crescent Cities Center in Riverdale, MD. He was joined in holy matrimony to Julia Mae Hailey on January 13, 1962 and to this union two children were born: Kenneth Lee and Talisa Lenett Lee. At an early age, Tommie accepted Jesus as Savior, was baptized, and joined Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Darlington, SC under the leadership of the late Dr. Frank H. Ham. He attended elementary school at the Mechanicsville School in Mechanicsville, SC and was a 1956 graduate of Mayo High School in Darlington, SC. After graduation, he and his brother, Johnson, left South Carolina and moved to Washington, DC with their cousin, Alphonso Lee, to get jobs.Tommie joined the United States Army in October 1962, serving two years on active duty and many years as an Army Reservist. In 1974, Tommie became a DC Metropolitan Police Officer and served until a severe car accident after which he was transferred into civilian service. He became an Auto Parts Specialist (under DC Metropolitan Police Dept.) with the Technical Service Division/Fleet Management Division in Washington, DC until his retirement on April 1, 1995 with over 30 plus years of service. He joined The Prince Hall Masonic Temple-Ionic Lodge #17 (Washington, DC) in 1973 where he was very dedicated and once served as treasurer. Tommie was a very hard-working man who was very compassionate about his family. He and his wife, Julia, helped to raise their grandchildren. Tommie loved to have a good time, often hosting cookouts in his back yard. Being a great cook, Tommie did most of the grilling at the cookouts. Being reared in a Christian singing family, his love for music was evident as he often listened to quartet groups, jazz, blues, and soul music. He was an avid photo enthusiast who captured special moments at various events. Many family, friends, and neighbors from the youngest to the oldest benefitted greatly from the mechanical knowledge, skills, and help given by Tommie with their vehicles. Tommie is preceded in death by his wife of 44 years, Julia Mae Lee; his parents, Tommie and Lula Jerry Lee, Sr.; his siblings, Ella Mae Pierce, Lula J. Mitchell, Johnson Jerry, Ethel Lee, and Mary Agnes Lee. He leaves to cherish his memory his children, Kenneth Lee and Talisa Lenett Lee; his grandchildren, Kenneth Lee, Jr, Regina Lee, Clarence Lee, Teressa Clarke, and Tyree White; one great-granddaughter, Jordan Julia Lee; one sister, Della Lewis; two sisters-in-law, Doris Hawkins (James), Stella Faison (Greg); four brothers-in-law, Benjamin Mitchell, Sr., Robert L. Hailey (Julia), Levester Hailey, and Ernest Hailey; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Friends may unite with the family on Wednesday, January 13, 2021 from 12 noon until time of private Life Celebration service at 1:00 pm at Briscoe-Tonic Funeral Home, 2294 Old Washington Rd, Waldorf, MD. Interment immediately following at Cedar Hill Cemetery, Suitland MD.
Due to COVID restrictions, family will have live streaming: https://youtu.be/LEg4BOf2MwE
From the Spencer family we want to send our condolences to the Lee family doing this time of sadness.