Jannie Lee "Thelma Lee

Services will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 7, 2019 at the L. E. Black, Phillips & Holden Funeral Home for Mrs. Jannie Lee Lee, 74, of Youngstown, who departed life and returned home to her Heavenly Father on Tuesday, April 30, 2019 at Mercy Health St. Elizabeth Youngstown Medical Center surrounded by her loving family and friends.

            Mrs. Lee, lovingly known as “Thelma”, was born August 1, 1944 in Grenada, Mississippi, a daughter of Elbert and Malinda Jones Seeden.  She was a 1962 graduate of Carrie Dotson High School in Mississippi.  Jannie had worked at the Chat and Chew Restaurant in Mississippi before relocating to Ohio.  She also sold Avon, and was owner/operator of Jannie & Ra’Ras General Merchandise (named after Jannie and her granddaughter).  For the past eleven years, Jannie has been a faithful employee of Holiday Inn in Boardman, OH.

            Mrs. Lee married the love of her life, Charles Ray “Pepper” Lee on March 14, 1970 who passed away on April 18, 2005.

            She leaves to cherish her memory her son, Marvin (Wanda Stokes) Lee; a granddaughter whom she reared, Marva (James Smith) Barnes; a great grandson whom she reared, Dezarian B. T. Mosley all of Youngstown; her stepchildren, Deborah Lee-Hays of Cleveland, Maurice Lee of California and Tracy Wilks of Youngstown; bonus daughters, Walidah Barnes of Columbus and Rev. Esther Rahim of Youngstown; two sisters, Mary Dubard of Mississippi and Mattie Smith of Akron; a brother, Howard (Michelle) Seeden of Akron; an aunt, Lula Mae Putnam of Ravenna; 13  grandchildren; 8 great grandchildren; a host of other children who were like grandchildren and great grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, loving family and friends.  Special thanks to Yvonne Robinson, Mary Cooper and Sabrina Ward for being great friends down through the years.

            Jannie was preceded in death by her parents; husband; a grandson, James Lee Smith III; a niece, LeMesha Smith; brothers, Sammy, Willie, Elbert Jr., Richard, Chester and Julius; mother-in-law, Essie (Chancy) Mitchell; and good friend, Mildred Barnes.

            Friends may call Tuesday from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home.

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