Obituary for Norman Edward Lee
Norman E. Lee
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."
2 Timothy 4:7 NIV
Early Years
Norman Edward Lee was the oldest child born to the late Claudia Mae Lee Culpepper ("Teaty") and Reverend Edward Mays Howard on September 29, 1946, in Selma, Alabama. He and his two sisters, Pat and Mary Anne, lived with their maternal grandparents, Papa and Momma, between Selma and Sardis, Alabama, on Alabama Route 41 and later off the Camden Highway. Norman, nicknamed “Man,” often thought the nickname was fitting as he was a little boy performing the duties of a man. Because Papa was sickly and up in age, he could not contribute much to the farm duties, so Norman and Momma became a cohesive team. On an ordinary day, young Norman would spend the day tending to the cows, feeding the hogs and chickens, cutting firewood for cooking or heating the house, and Momma would handle the rest. In addition to his responsibilities on the farm, Momma insisted that Norman and his sisters get to know God through daily prayers and Sunday School. At age 11, he retired from his full-time sharecropper duties so he and his sisters could be with Teaty and his stepfather (Walter Raymond Culpepper) in Montgomery, Alabama. Norman and his sisters continued studying God's word at Bible School, and he was baptized at Greater Mount Olive Baptist Church. As he walked with his sisters to 5 PM Baptist Training Union (BTU) classes on Sunday afternoons, he proudly carried his little Bible and wore his shiny black suit; and the neighbors remarked, “That boy’s gonna be a preacher one day!”
In Montgomery, he had the opportunity to attend school regularly. Now in the 5th grade, he was excited to master all the academic challenges as it was more enjoyable than his duties as a sharecropper. He competed with his classmates to earn the highest grades. In the 8th grade, he was inducted into the Honor Society and excelled in math and science. In 9th grade, against Teaty’s wishes, he tried out for the football team and eventually became the team Captain at G.W. Carver High School in Montgomery, Alabama. As a student-athlete, he continued to excel academically. He was presented with many opportunities, such as participating in the National Science Foundation program at Grambling State University, he was elected Junior Class President and Student Council President. In his Senior year, Carver won the Black State Football Championship, and he earned a full football scholarship to Kentucky State University, where he would major in Chemistry and Math.
Family & Professional Life
Norman had a thirst for knowledge and a desire to grow. Upon earning his bachelor's degree in Chemistry, he returned to Montgomery and married his childhood sweetheart, Carolyn Treece. To this union was born his favorite oldest daughter, Erika. He immediately accepted a job at Goodyear as a chemist and moved to Akron, Ohio. Still seeking to be challenged, he earned an associate degree in computer programming, packed up the family, and moved to Erie, Pennsylvania. While there, he earned a Master’s Degree in Natural Sciences and began working for the Burroughs Corporation in Philadelphia. In the 1970s, he wanted to be near his sisters in Baltimore, so he accepted a position with IBM and moved to the DC Metro area. In search of a church home, he was introduced to First Baptist Church, Inc., of North Brentwood, where he would soon become a member. Although IBM moved him for work occasionally, he remained a steadfast church member, serving many years as a Host and Trustee.
Later, IBM moved Norman to Birmingham, where Norman met and married his soulmate, Vernecia Ruffin, which resulted in a 31-year relationship of friendship, success, and happiness until her death. To this union, Norman was blessed with three more children: one son, Demetrius, his favorite middle daughter, Vernecia, and his favorite youngest daughter, Erren. IBM then called Norman back to the DC Metro area, where he spent the last 20 of 27 years with IBM as a manager with numerous responsibilities. Over the years, Norman relied on the value system established as a boy on the farm. He worked to develop his skills and knowledge so that his particular skill set would always be in demand. His career and jobs were enjoyable, and he often said, “I would have played with computers even if there was no pay.” Norman liked moving around during his career, especially four IBM moves which enabled him to live and travel to many places, even out of the country. He loved bowling, being the unofficial coach and teammate to his daughters Vernecia and Erren, traveling, golfing early Saturday mornings with his friends, and biking around the DC Metro area. Norman loved music; although he had a unique grasp of rhythm, it always made him smile as he attempted to sing along. He studied and participated in the stock market for decades and served as counsel to many family and friends. In 2004, Norman retired from IBM and transitioned into education as a Math teacher in Montgomery County for two years. Family meant everything to Norman; he enjoyed picking up his grandkids from school and taking them out on adventures, and ensuring he was present at all special events. Sometime after Vernecia’s death, Norman met his best friend, Palmela Burgess, a longtime First Baptist Church of North Brentwood member. They married on July 22, 2016. Their union remained intact for six years until his death.
Cherished Memories
Norman departed this life at home on March 3, 2023, Friday evening. He leaves to cherish his memory his wife, Palmela Burgess Lee; his oldest daughter, Erika Lee of Gaithersburg, Maryland; his son, Demetrius Smith of Birmingham, Alabama; his middle daughter Vernecia Griffin of Baltimore, Maryland; and his youngest daughter, Erren Lee (Damon) of Baltimore, Maryland; three sisters, Patricia Lee Harris (Melvin, Sr.) of Newnan, Georgia; Mary Anne Lee of Montgomery, Alabama; Dianne Jordan of Detroit, Michigan; and one brother Charles “Jeep” Smelley (Sally Pearl) of Selma, Alabama; two granddaughters, Maya Griffin and Sydney Griffin of Baltimore, Maryland; and three grandsons, Paul Griffin, Jr. of Baltimore, Maryland; Asher Lee of Gaithersburg, Maryland; and Jorden Lee Cooper of Baltimore, Maryland; and a host of in-laws, beloved nieces, nephews, devoted cousins, extended family, and friends.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Alzheimers Association in tribute to Norman E. Lee, an organization close to our hearts.
http://act.alz.org/goto/NormanELee
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."
2 Timothy 4:7 NIV
Early Years
Norman Edward Lee was the oldest child born to the late Claudia Mae Lee Culpepper ("Teaty") and Reverend Edward Mays Howard on September 29, 1946, in Selma, Alabama. He and his two sisters, Pat and Mary Anne, lived with their maternal grandparents, Papa and Momma, between Selma and Sardis, Alabama, on Alabama Route 41 and later off the Camden Highway. Norman, nicknamed “Man,” often thought the nickname was fitting as he was a little boy performing the duties of a man. Because Papa was sickly and up in age, he could not contribute much to the farm duties, so Norman and Momma became a cohesive team. On an ordinary day, young Norman would spend the day tending to the cows, feeding the hogs and chickens, cutting firewood for cooking or heating the house, and Momma would handle the rest. In addition to his responsibilities on the farm, Momma insisted that Norman and his sisters get to know God through daily prayers and Sunday School. At age 11, he retired from his full-time sharecropper duties so he and his sisters could be with Teaty and his stepfather (Walter Raymond Culpepper) in Montgomery, Alabama. Norman and his sisters continued studying God's word at Bible School, and he was baptized at Greater Mount Olive Baptist Church. As he walked with his sisters to 5 PM Baptist Training Union (BTU) classes on Sunday afternoons, he proudly carried his little Bible and wore his shiny black suit; and the neighbors remarked, “That boy’s gonna be a preacher one day!”
In Montgomery, he had the opportunity to attend school regularly. Now in the 5th grade, he was excited to master all the academic challenges as it was more enjoyable than his duties as a sharecropper. He competed with his classmates to earn the highest grades. In the 8th grade, he was inducted into the Honor Society and excelled in math and science. In 9th grade, against Teaty’s wishes, he tried out for the football team and eventually became the team Captain at G.W. Carver High School in Montgomery, Alabama. As a student-athlete, he continued to excel academically. He was presented with many opportunities, such as participating in the National Science Foundation program at Grambling State University, he was elected Junior Class President and Student Council President. In his Senior year, Carver won the Black State Football Championship, and he earned a full football scholarship to Kentucky State University, where he would major in Chemistry and Math.
Family & Professional Life
Norman had a thirst for knowledge and a desire to grow. Upon earning his bachelor's degree in Chemistry, he returned to Montgomery and married his childhood sweetheart, Carolyn Treece. To this union was born his favorite oldest daughter, Erika. He immediately accepted a job at Goodyear as a chemist and moved to Akron, Ohio. Still seeking to be challenged, he earned an associate degree in computer programming, packed up the family, and moved to Erie, Pennsylvania. While there, he earned a Master’s Degree in Natural Sciences and began working for the Burroughs Corporation in Philadelphia. In the 1970s, he wanted to be near his sisters in Baltimore, so he accepted a position with IBM and moved to the DC Metro area. In search of a church home, he was introduced to First Baptist Church, Inc., of North Brentwood, where he would soon become a member. Although IBM moved him for work occasionally, he remained a steadfast church member, serving many years as a Host and Trustee.
Later, IBM moved Norman to Birmingham, where Norman met and married his soulmate, Vernecia Ruffin, which resulted in a 31-year relationship of friendship, success, and happiness until her death. To this union, Norman was blessed with three more children: one son, Demetrius, his favorite middle daughter, Vernecia, and his favorite youngest daughter, Erren. IBM then called Norman back to the DC Metro area, where he spent the last 20 of 27 years with IBM as a manager with numerous responsibilities. Over the years, Norman relied on the value system established as a boy on the farm. He worked to develop his skills and knowledge so that his particular skill set would always be in demand. His career and jobs were enjoyable, and he often said, “I would have played with computers even if there was no pay.” Norman liked moving around during his career, especially four IBM moves which enabled him to live and travel to many places, even out of the country. He loved bowling, being the unofficial coach and teammate to his daughters Vernecia and Erren, traveling, golfing early Saturday mornings with his friends, and biking around the DC Metro area. Norman loved music; although he had a unique grasp of rhythm, it always made him smile as he attempted to sing along. He studied and participated in the stock market for decades and served as counsel to many family and friends. In 2004, Norman retired from IBM and transitioned into education as a Math teacher in Montgomery County for two years. Family meant everything to Norman; he enjoyed picking up his grandkids from school and taking them out on adventures, and ensuring he was present at all special events. Sometime after Vernecia’s death, Norman met his best friend, Palmela Burgess, a longtime First Baptist Church of North Brentwood member. They married on July 22, 2016. Their union remained intact for six years until his death.
Cherished Memories
Norman departed this life at home on March 3, 2023, Friday evening. He leaves to cherish his memory his wife, Palmela Burgess Lee; his oldest daughter, Erika Lee of Gaithersburg, Maryland; his son, Demetrius Smith of Birmingham, Alabama; his middle daughter Vernecia Griffin of Baltimore, Maryland; and his youngest daughter, Erren Lee (Damon) of Baltimore, Maryland; three sisters, Patricia Lee Harris (Melvin, Sr.) of Newnan, Georgia; Mary Anne Lee of Montgomery, Alabama; Dianne Jordan of Detroit, Michigan; and one brother Charles “Jeep” Smelley (Sally Pearl) of Selma, Alabama; two granddaughters, Maya Griffin and Sydney Griffin of Baltimore, Maryland; and three grandsons, Paul Griffin, Jr. of Baltimore, Maryland; Asher Lee of Gaithersburg, Maryland; and Jorden Lee Cooper of Baltimore, Maryland; and a host of in-laws, beloved nieces, nephews, devoted cousins, extended family, and friends.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Alzheimers Association in tribute to Norman E. Lee, an organization close to our hearts.
http://act.alz.org/goto/NormanELee