Helen Lee

Our dear mother and grandmother Helen Marie Lewis Lee sadly passed away on February 22, 2024, at the age of 94. She was born in Nashville, Tennessee on December 4, 1929, an only child, to the late Arnett J. Lewis and Sara Brown Lewis.  

As a young girl, Helen was a faithful member of St Phillips AME. She moved her membership to St Matthews AME when she married Cato Lee.  She retired in 1996 and moved to her daughter's house and joined St Paul AME.  No matter the location she was always a devoted member.

She was involved in community organizations such as the ST Paul missionary society.  Missionary activities included sending get-well and birthday cards to church members and baby clothes to Meharry Hospital indigent mothers with new babies. She participated in drives to sign up voters. She was a member of Bordeaux Fifty-Forward and Pals of Pleasure service and social club.  She was a regular donor to NOAH and Frist Museum.  

Her belief in education was reflected in the way she not only encouraged her children and grandchildren to experience life but in her service to Jones Paideia and Cumberland Elementary schools where she volunteered in the library, read stories to the children and donated school supplies to teachers.   

She graduated from Pearl High School and began to practice as a Licensed Practical Nurse in 1947.  She took pride in her profession, she continued to work for 50 years, retiring as a private duty nurse.

Helen was predeceased in death by Arnett Lewis (father), Sarah Brown Lewis (mother), Jacqueline Lee Young (daughter), Michelle Lee Hall Mimms (daughter), Emmett Childress, Sr. (son-in-law) and she is survived by her daughter Carol Lee Childress, grandchildren Emmett Childress, Jr. (Kiesha), Vickeeta Hall Coleman, Kenya Hall, Shemica Young Best (Mathew), Susan Childress Vanderbilt (Larry, Jr.), Rayburn Hall, Jr., Arnold Humphrey, Jr., Christopher Humphrey, 11 great-grandchildren, and a host of other family, extended family, and friends.