God is so amazing when He brings special people into our lives. I remember talking to Daddy Lee almost daily as he visited his wife and I visited my mom who was in the room across the way. We would just talk and we always bring comfort and encouragement to each other. I remember asking if he had any children and he smiled and told me he had 3 daughters and I could tell he was very proud of them...little did I know that days later I would learn that I knew them and had actually met Daddy Lee and his wife in the past...at that point the bond that was established was even stronger and he showed unconditional love and treated me as a 4th daughter. After his beautiful wife transitioned to heaven...I missed his presence at the facility but we kept in touch as he encouraged me with my own mom! When I learned of his unexpected illness I knew I had to talk with him and spend time with Daddy Lee for the last time.  I thank God for the memories, wisdom and the unconditional love of God he displayed for the season that he was a part of my life! I know Daddy Lee continues to live on with me in spirit and is still encouraging me from heaven.

Thanking God for my beautiful sisters who have embraced me even as Daddy Lee welcomed me! I know he is smiling down on us!

HE WANTED EVERYONE TO KNOW...

"ALL OF THE PIECES OF THE PUZZLE ARE TOGETHER NOW"

The beautiful "DOVE" was a sign from heaven that Daddy Lee is at peace in the presence of the Lord! The "DOVE" appeared and glided around in front of me  about 8 hours later after a storm on the day that Daddy Lee transitioned to heaven!

LOVE, ELLA

He fiercely loved his daughers and made many sacrifices to make sure they had everything... and they did!

Phillip came from a life of extreme poverty but through hard work, integrity and the help of the love of his life, he accommplished what was a much desired dream of his... Phillip always wanted to own his own custom-built home.

Phillip not only achieved his dream of owning his own home, but he helped draw and design the plans of that custom home. He eventually came to own FIVE homes in his lifetime.

At the memorial of his wife, BettyJean Short Lee, Phillip shared with his family a beautiful and touching story. He told us of how he comforted his wife shortly before she passed by telling her this: "When you get to heaven, look for a beautiful meadow that grows beside a stream, where the sun is shining and the birds are singing.... Wait for me there and I will find you."

The miracles of God are real and Phillip Lee was a talking, walking testament to that... In June of 2013, after surviving a stroke only a year before while visiting Atlanta for his grand-daughter, Nikki's baby shower, he suffered three back-to-back cardiac arrests where he was pronounced dead for a total of forty five minutes. Baylor McKinney Hospital's (McKinney, Texas) medical staff recalls unexplained events that led to his miraculous revival as well as a near complete recovery that included the return of his sight, his speach, his mobility, his cognitive abilities as well as restoration to all his organs that had ceased functioning. And if all that wasn't miraculous enough, Phillip later shared with his family - and anyone else who was willing to listen - the amazing story of his after-death, out-of-body experience where he reported seeing a team of doctors, nurses and various medical staff working feverishly below him to revive his dead body. He also shares his horifying recount of feeling terrified when he found himself in a place of unimaginable loneliness and utter darkness. Phillip surprised everyone by his ability to recognize and name every doctor and nurse that worked in the emergency room to revive him. When the doctors in the hospital heard of the miracle, they all visited and looked upon him in amazement and in disbelief.

God is so gracious, so good and  ever so merciful... Days later, when Phillip became conscious, his son-in-law, Dwayne Hughes, led him to Christ. During his miraculous experience, Phillip also reported hearing the Voice of God telling him that his time to leave this earth had not yet come. After a lengthy stay, Phillip again surprised everyone by walking out of the hospital and continuing his life where he left off, loving and caring for his terminally ill wife every day until she left him to be with the Lord. At her memorial in May of 2014, Phillip shared with his family a beautiful and touching story. He told of how he comforted his wife shortly before she passed by telling her, "When you get to heaven, look for a beautiful meadow that grows beside a stream, where the sun is shining and the birds are singing.... Wait for me there and I will find you."

My dad lost contact with his family over the years and by the grace of God and with the help of my sister, Jena, we were able to connect him with his two sisters, Addie (Dimple) Wilson, Charlene Haskett and his brother, Larry Lee, only a few days before my dad passed... Aunt Dimple was able to touch my dad and see him smile at her two days before he died. Aunt Charlene, by the grace of God, was able to fly in from Denver, Colorado to be with us for his memorial. We have embraced her into this family and look forward to sharing many memories in the days to come...

God brought new love, restoration and hope into our family. Thank you Lord.

I heard this song the other day - To Sir With Love - sung in 1967 by an artist named Lulu and was reminded of my childhoold when my dad shared with me that this artist had been one of his favorites. To Sir With Love was also the theme song to a movie that shared the same name. The movie starred Sydney Poitier who was another favorite of my dad's. As a child who had heard my dad share stories about his life growing up in the south and his struggle for respect as a black man, this movie and the song attached to it touched me deeply. However today, the words hold an even deeper meaning for me... This is for you Daddy, to Sir, with love. You are, by all means, a man who has earned, and will always deserve, all my respect...