Shirley A. Lee

Surrounded by her loving family, Shirley A. Lee (née Stokes) of Newark, Delaware peacefully passed away at home on May 3, 2022. She was born in Marshallton, Delaware on November 13, 1934, to the late Hugh Stokes and Bessie (Roberts) Stokes. She attended Absalom Jones Elementary School in Belvedere, Delaware and was a proud graduate of Howard High School, class of 1953. Shirley served in the Delaware Army National Guard and lived her entire life in the state of Delaware. Understanding the importance of being gainfully employed, Shirley entered the workforce while in high school and participated in Howard’s co-op program. After high school, she was employed at John Wanamaker Department Store where she worked several sundry jobs until she decided to pursue a career in childcare. It was a career that she not only loved, but she also excelled in. Shirley founded, owned, and operated the Lee Day Care for more than 30 years and mentored other individuals to become owners and operators of their own day care establishments. Throughout the years, Shirley received numerous commendations, but the one she was most proud of was the Governor’s Award for Childcare. Through dedication and loving commitment to children, the Lee Day Care established a strong educational foundation for all its students, which led many of them to pursue professional careers as lawyers, doctors, nurses, ministers, and educators. Shirley was a devout Christian who loved to read the Bible. She was active in many church activities, but her greatest love was singing in the choir. Other church activities included working in the Neighborhood House, Vacation Bible School, and the Dupont Park Church Love Feast Ministry. Nurturing was part of her nature, so she always took the time to comfort and counsel a hurting person. She would comfort others with the Word and with her delicious food. She loved to cook and was an outstanding one. She collected hundreds of magazines for the purpose of gathering recipes; however, she was a natural in the kitchen, and her family was blessed by her culinary talents. Shirley loved family gatherings and would use any excuse to celebrate. Spending quality time with her family was a priority. She coordinated yearly vacations to Williamsburg, Virginia and to the Outer Banks in North Carolina, where the fun never stopped. Games, water guns, cooking, beach time, and shopping filled up the family’s vacation hours. Shirley was the last of her exceptionally large family to pass. She took immense pride in each family member’s accomplishments. Shirley was predeceased by her parents, Hugh O. and Bessie Stokes-Reason and stepfather Clarence Reason; sisters, Freida Harris and Joyce Bungy; brothers, Hugh (Hughie), Olen, Donald, Lorrain (Rainey), Leonard, LaRue (Rudy), and William; and a beloved grandson, Lewis L. Lee IV. In addition, all her dear aunts, uncles, and several close cousins predeceased her. She leaves to celebrate her life, Lewis L. Lee, Jr., her husband of more than 65 years; two sons, Lewis L. III of Newark, Delaware and David (Yanet) of Neptune, New Jersey; two daughters, Karen Miller (Daniel) of Newark, Delaware, and Donna Ellis (Michael) of Vancouver, Washington. She was the proud grandmother to grandsons, Kenneth Myers (Samantha) of Nutley, New Jersey, and Alejando Lee of Neptune, New Jersey; and granddaughters, Jennifer Myers of South Hadley, Massachusetts, and Alyssa Tanner (Maxwell) of Vancouver, Washington; one great-grandson, Dean Myers of Nutley, New Jersey; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws, and friends. A visitation will be held Wednesday, May 18, 2022, from 9:30-11 AM at Strano & Feeley Family Funeral Home, 635 Churchmans Rd., Newark, DE 19702 followed by a service in celebration of Shirley’s life at 11 AM. Burial will follow in Gracelawn Memorial Park. For directions or to send an online condolence visit www.stranofeeley.com

Shirley A. Lee

November 13, 1934 - May 3, 2022

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