John " Jack" Edward Lee

John “Jack” Edward Lee, age 83, of Washington, D.C., passed away on Monday, September 11, 2023.

Jack was a longtime resident of the MS Gulf Coast. He was a hero in many ways. Jack volunteered to serve in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. He also aided in relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina by rallying troops to donate in Cape Coral, FL, where he also lived and had a business. He was all too familiar with what a large storm could do, as he and his family weathered Hurricane Charlie the year prior. Jack and his team then drove and delivered much-needed supplies to those people affected by Katrina’s wrath. He attended Chamberlain High School in Southeast Washington, D.C.—also referred to as “The Avenue”. Hand Dancing was all the rage in the D.C. area during the 1950s and was one of his biggest passions. He even won a dance competition on the Milt Grant Show in D.C. Peggy Lee, a famous singer of the time, picked Jack as the top dancer. Another great passion of Jack’s was Poker. You could frequently find him playing No Limit Hold Em at the IP or Beau Rivage. If he beat you in a hand, you most likely heard him tell you, “You ain’t playing with children.” Then he would give you that memorable laugh that I assume lessened the blow. Fishing was also one of Jack’s favorite pastimes. He handed down his fishing, dancing, and talking abilities to his kids and grandkids. He always brought joy and laughter everywhere he went and always let us know how much he loved us.

“My walk had purpose, my steps were quick and light, and I held firmly to what I felt was right.”

Quote by:  Bob Seger

Jack was preceded in death by his parents, Mary Phoebe & Charles Melvin Lee; siblings, Larry Gene Lee & Patricia Ann Trossevin; and son, John "Little Johnny" Edward Lee, Jr.

Survivors include his loving wife, Tammi Yvette Elwick Lee; 4 children, Anthony "Tony" Edward Lee (Angela), Jennifer Ellen Lee (Caleb Henderson), Collette Lynne Campbell (Greg), and Catherine Elaine Lee; 8 grandchildren, Brandon Michael Gentilcore, Anthony Edward Lee, Jr., Kolton Aaron Kerns, Devon John Bolton, Ava Elizabeth Lee, Tripp Jackson Lee, Anna Kate Campbell, and William Gabriel Campbell; and 5 siblings, Charles "Sonny" Milton Lee (Bunny Herschensohn), William "Billy" Wesley Lee, Gerald “Jerry” Raymond Lee (Judy), Robert "Bobby" Melvin Lee (Mary Ann), and Ronald "Ronnie" Elmer Lee.

Services will be held at Bradford O’Keefe Funeral Home, 15^th Street, Gulfport on Friday, September 22, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. Friends may visit one-hour prior. Interment will follow at Biloxi National Cemetery. Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home, 15^th Street, Gulfport is honored to serve the Lee family.

The family asks that donations be made to Side-by-Side Respite Ministry at https://firstumclb.org/home-2/mission-2/respite-care-ministry/ or Home Under the Dome Respite Ministry at https://fumc-gulfport.org/ministry/home-under-the-dome