March 2, 2014

Grace Elizabeth Allen Lee, 1931 - 2006

Grace Elizabeth Lee (Aunt Lib to the family) was my mother's middle sister. She passed away in 2006 and is buried at Good Hope Baptist Church in Youngsville, NC. I have many many fond memories of Aunt Lib and spent many holidays in her home. I wrote a tribute to her for the funeral. It goes like this:

Seventy-some years ago, Grace Elizabeth (Lib) Lee entered this world as the beloved middle daughter of Atlas Allen and his wife Ethel Davis Allen. Born in Granville County, “Gracie” lived her life in Granville and Wake County, leaving only long enough to pay her own tribute to her favorite country music stars. John Henry Lee may have been her husband and the love of her life, but Elvis Presley and Conway Twitty were her boyfriends!

Grace had two beautiful and bright children: Donnie and Brenda. She had five adoring grandchildren, and eight great grandchildren along with a host of other family and friends. She was an excellent seamstress and an awesome cook. She made the best biscuits ever but her fried chicken was surely the best in the world! Her home was her pride and her family was her joy.

Gracie held a true beauty – both inside and out. A dedicated public servant, Grace worked for the State of North Carolina for many years. After she retired from the State, she used her gift of grace and kindness in the family waiting area of Rex Hospital comforting waiting families and dispensing information. You could always count on her to visit when you were sick, cook for you when you were hungry, and gallivant when the gallivanting was good.

So today while we share our sorrow, let’s also celebrate a life well-lived, filled with the joy of a loving family and with friends who held fast through the good times and the bad. A life of courage, a life of grace, and a life devoted to the happiness of others.

Gracie was the woman all parents hope their daughters grow to be – kind, selfless, giving. Her spirit has touched each one of us and encourages us to spend our time and energies on that which is most important…family. One sure thing about Gracie…she always knew what was important.

                       






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