Rev. Dr. Eldridge Lavan Lee was born on January 26, 1950 in Statesboro, Georgia to the late Ebenezer Lee Jr. and Sarah C. Lee. Raised in Portal Georgia, he received Jesus as his Lord and Savior at Scarboro Grove Missionary Baptist Church at the age of 8. He attended The Historic Willow Hill School and graduated from William James High School in 1967.
Rev. Lee furthered his education at Tuskegee University. He was initiated into Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity and the Lambda Epsilon Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity in 1968. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in 1971, was commissioned Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army in 1972, and earned his Master of Education degree in 1973.
While attending Tuskegee, Rev. Lee met his beautiful wife to be, Patricia Scott. They were united in Holy Matrimony on December 18, 1971. This union produced three daughters Nikita Patrice Lee, Yolanda Laverne Lee, and Jenetter Eldridge Lee. He entered active duty in the U.S. Army in 1973 and served a combined total of 28 years, active and reserve. He retired as Lieutenant Colonel in 2010.
Rev. Lee believed in the importance of home ownership and received his real estate license in the state of Georgia in 1985. To further press in this direction, Eldridge and Patricia established their real estate brokerage firm, Peach State Realty Advisors, Inc. in 1993.
Rev. Lee loved serving the Lord and was very active in the Deacon Ministry for many years. In 2004 he graduated from Baptist International Bible Institute with a diploma of Bible Theology. He continued in his religious studies and in 2008 received his PhD in Religion from Bethany Divinity College & Seminary and accepted his call to ministry. Rev. Lee was ordained to the work of the Gospel Ministry in 2009 by the late Rev. Dr. J. E. Hightower of Greater Elizabeth Missionary Baptist Church.
Rev. Lee was called to be with the Lord on September 3, 2022. He touched so many lives with his jovial personality, kind heart, and enthusiastic laughter. Rev. Lee leaves to cherish his memories his devoted wife of fifty years, Patricia S. Lee; his daughters Nikita (Tari) Lewis of Menifee, California; Yolanda Lee of Atlanta, Georgia; Jenetter (Aaron) Richburg of Atlanta, Georgia; grandsons Isaiah Richburg and Noa Delaney; granddaughters Hannah and Sarah Richburg of Atlanta, Georgia; sister-in-law Brenda Pinkard of Tuskegee, Alabama; brother-in-law Curtis Scott of Richmond, Virginia. He is proceeded in death by his sister, Jackie Lee Berry. He will be lovingly remembered by his nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
A Celebration of Life for Rev. Lee will be held Saturday, September 17, 2022, at 11:00 a.m., at Mount Zion Baptist Church, 120 Greene Street, NE 30213, Fairburn, GA.
Visitation/Viewing September 16, 2022, 10:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. at Gus Thornhill Funeral Home, 13150Gus Thornhill Jr. Drive, East Point GA 30344
Visitation/Viewing September 18, 2022, 1:00 pm-6:00 p.m., James R. Barnes Mortuary,327 James Street, Statesboro, GA 30458.
Interment, September 19, 2022, 12 noon, Scarboro Baptist Church Cemetery, 21 Pecan Grove Road, Portal, GA 3045.
Gus Thornhill Funeral Home in charge of the Atlanta arrangements and James R. Barnes Mortuary is in charge of the local arrangements.
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