On November 24, 1950, John Wesley Lee III was born to the late Deacon John Wesley Lee, II and Deaconess Bernice Elizabeth Lee. John is the third child of 10 children born to this loving couple. On April 23, 2024, in the early morning, the Lord called him home.
As a young boy, John loved the military; and he was a member of the Blue Jackets Cadets. He attended Bronx public schools, P.S. 47, Castle Hill JHS 125, DeWitt Clinton HS. He was the captain of the swimming team and played football. He also played semipro football for the Spartans. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on January 28, 1969. As of July 1, 1969, He was appointed the rank of Private First Class. As of February 24, 1970, he began working as a Military Police onboard his ship. He was elevated to Lance Corporal as of May 1, 1970. Within this same year, he was promoted to Corporal as of November 1. He was very proud to be a Marine; he wore it, he drove it, he spoke it and he lived it. His wardrobe consisted of military attire. He also served within the U.S. Army Reserves and attended Officer’s Candidate School, at West Point, where he was a non-commissioned officer and received the rank of Captain.
During his military career, John traveled. While in the Marines, he was able to visit many countries and ports of call; he had a story to tell for every port. He served in the Vietnam War and while traveling aboard the U.S.S. Intrepid, he stopped in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada – where he met and married his bride, Shirl Glenda Simmons on his birthday, November 24, 1972. From this union, three children were born: John Wesley Lee IV (Elizabeth), Tromain Christopher Lee (Dwanika) and Renata Terese Lee.
As a young boy, John was an active member of the New Covenant Holiness Church, in Harlem. After completing his tour with the U.S. Marines, he returned home with his wife; and they served the Lord together. In 1989, John and Shirl moved upstate to Scotchtown. Years later, they moved to Montgomery, and then joined Amazing Grace Fellowship and served there for many years. He was very active in the church as a Deacon, he taught Sunday School, and played bass guitar as a member of the Worship Team.
John was an avid fisherman. He loved fishing and looked forward to it. His love for fishing rolled off onto his brothers, friends, children, and his grandchildren. He never passed up an opportunity for a fishing trip. When he would meet someone for the first time, he would always ask, “do you fish?”. There is a funny story I want to tell about our kids when they were little … whenever John went out to the store, he would say – “who wants to go with me?” and the kids would look and say “Not Me!”. When he left, I would ask, “why didn’t you want to go?”. They would answer, “Dad would go to the store for one thing right around the corner, and we would not get back for two hours … because he would talk to every person he ran into, whether he knew them or not”.
John loved his children and was very proud of them. He was very supportive in their academics and sports. He never missed any of their extra-curricular activities. But most of all, he wanted his children to know the Lord. More importantly, he wanted them to have a personal relationship with the Lord. He talked to them each day about the Lord. He would always find a way to include the Lord in his conversations. He read his bible every day and loved bible studies, bible quizzes and puzzles.
John had a love for his grandchildren – he thought the world of them. He would do any and everything for them. He called and FaceTime with them regularly and always supported them. He found a way to make it to their activities. When speaking to them, he always emphasized something about the Bible and education. He could never say “No” to them; he found a way to give them what they asked for, but he asked them for something in return. Even though I wanted more time to think about it before saying “Yes”. He would say, “Yes”, but you must respect and honor your mother and father; and accelerate in school. Our grandchildren could do things that our own children could not get away with. Yet, I think he loved his grandchildren more! To our grandchildren, remember everything that “Papa” told you and taught you – so you can see him again.
John was a musical man. He sang, whistled, played instruments (bass and guitar) and congas. He sang every chance that he could. He sang in church choirs, while serving in the Marines, at weddings, on vacations, basketball games, parties, at karaoke, at funerals … and at home. He never went a day without singing.
John traveled the world. He wanted to always include his family on his vacations. He visited many places outside of the United States and loved learning different cultures and languages. Even when his health began to decline, he still wanted to travel. He was making plans to travel to Hawaii.
John was preceded in glory, by his mother (Bernice Elizabeth Lee), his father (John Wesley Lee II), his sister (Daria Delores Lee), his sister (Ethel LaVerne Bailey), his brother (Gary Steven Lee), and his brother (Leonard Douglas Lee). He leaves to mourn his wife of 51 years, Shirl Glenda (Simmons) Lee, two sons John Wesley Lee, IV (Elizabeth), Tromain Christopher Lee (Dwanika), and a daughter, Renata Terese Lee. His grandchildren: Trisha, Trayquan, Tyra, Alex, Nasiriyah, Damaris, Mariah, Christopher, Ethan, Celeste, Isaiah. His great grandchildren: Jaydyn, Amareese, Jaeyla, Legend, Jaiyln, Kyng, Jordyn. His godchildren, Tenika Simmons Thomas, Roberta Rochelle Smith. His seven sisters: Vivian Ann Lee (New York), Barbara Ann Simmons Dixon (Songue) (Maryland), Maxine Miller (Ontario, Canada), Gloria Joyce Lee, Roslyn Lee, Janice Elizabeth Lee and Carolee Lee (all from New York); eight brothers, Richard Bailey, Sr. (New Jersey), Wilfred Joseph Simmons (Jean), Calvin Sinclair Simmons (Anne) (Nova Scotia, Canada), Barry Edward Lee (Virgie) (New York), Winslow Simmons (Lynn), Carlo Eugene Simmons (Loretta), Edward Dwayne Simmons (Rhonda) (all from Nova Scotia, Canada), and Mark Anthony Lee (Sandra) (New York); 30 nieces and nephews and more than 50 grand- and great-grand nieces and nephews too numerous to name. A host of cousins, a church family (local and abroad), and friends who will miss him dearly.
John Wesley Lee III will be remembered as a brother, a lovely husband, uncle, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, a godfather, a loving, kind, and generous man. You were a devout Christian man who loved and feared the Lord. You were a father-figure to many. Most of all, you were my best friend, my bible study teacher, and my shopping and travel partner. I will forever love and cherish the life we had together. I miss you tremendously and I know I must go on … for our children and our grandchildren. I will meet you at the pearly gates.
A funeral service was held Friday, May 3, 2024 at Amazing Grace Fellowship Church. Burial was at Orange County Veterans Cemetery, Goshen.
Arrangements were made by Millspaugh Funeral Directors.