MR. ALFRED LEE, SR., affectionately known to his loved ones as “Pop”, was
born July 22, 1925 to the parentage of the late William and Eliza Lee. He was a native
of Ackerville/Snow Hill, Alabama, and a resident of Mobile, Alabama for 95 years.
He exchanged earthly life for eternal life on May 14, 2021, surrounded by his children
and grandchildren.
Mr. Lee was preceded in death by his parents, William and Eliza Lee; wife of 68 years,
Cleo Brazile Lee; daughter, Tammy Lee; sons, Herman, Kalvin, James Sr., Alfred Lee,
Jr., and Walter Allen; grandson, Denzel King; son-in-law, Charles Taylor, Sr.; sisters,
Mae Bessie Lee Kyles, Minnie Bell Lee King, Ruth Lee Scott, Mattie Lee Pettaway,
and Hattie Lee Edwards; brothers, Henry Sylvester Lee and William Lee, Jr. The Lord
blessed all his siblings to live to be centenarians; and his father was a nonagenarian
who lived to be one-hundred and ten years old.
Mr. Lee accepted Christ at an early age. He joined Mt. Carmel Church Ministries after
he married the love of his life, Cleo Brazile Lee. They were married for 68 years at the
time of her death in 2010. He was a devoted member of Mt. Carmel for over eighty
years and had a great love for his pastor and his pastor’s family. On many occasions
before his health failed, he had the great pleasure of grilling and surprising Pastor Carl
Bolden and family with barbecue. Our mother would have all the side dishes ready
and after church she would go home and send everything back to the pastor’s study
by one of the children.
Mr. Lee started working at Riley Stuart Supply in May of 1949. He was employed for
seventy years, retiring at 92 years of age. He received many accolades and honors
while employed, and he impacted the lives of all the employees and customers who
came in contact with him. He was a father figure to all the workers. He
wholeheartedly believed in men working and taking care of their family. He would
always quote the scripture: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat. 2 Thessalonians
Chapter 3:10. Every Saturday morning he would wake up his sons at 5:00 am to take
them to work with him in Spanish Fort, AL on his second job. When he called their
names, they knew to get up and get ready.
Mr. Lee was honored with a grand celebration at Riley Stuart Company on Friday, July
24, 1999, when he was ninety years old. Mobile Press Register sent someone to do an
article on him. He received proclamations from the President, Governor, and Senate,
and local officials came to the ceremony to give him more awards and accolades. The
owner and staff of the company thought he was retiring that day, but they were
fooled. On Monday, July, 27 around 5:00 am he left his son Kelvin’s home so he
would be on time for work at 7:00 a.m. When everyone arrived at work, he had
already opened the gates!
 

Mr. Lee loved to hang out in the yard keeping busy, whether he was working in the
garden, planting flowers, or making flowerpots or bird houses. He enjoyed being at
home and spending time with his family. He was the greatest provider in the world
and was able to spoil all eleven children and his grandchildren. He had a special bond
with all of his grandchildren. He was a monumental man, and he will live on through
his sons and grandsons. He always said, “I know I have some pretty and smart
grandchildren”. When the grandchildren came, he tried to forget about us and
devoted time with each of them. He loved being outside, and his grandson Charles
always assisted him with whatever he wanted to do, mainly building flowerpots. He
made birdhouses and flowerpots for his employer, Riley Stuart Supply, that are still in
place today.
Last weekend we were able to carry him down to the Taylor family home on the
waterfront. He really enjoyed being with his family, especially the grandchildren. On
last Sunday night as we were placing him in his bed, he said, “I really enjoyed being
with everyone, but I won’t be going back. Our dad prepared us for his death, he told
all of us that he was leaving.
Mr. Lee is survived by a devoted family, five devoted sons: Reginald Gulley, Cleon
(Shara) Gulley, Dennis (Avia) Lee and Kelvin Lee; devoted daughters: Diane Taylor
and Claudette Lee; five daughters-in-law, Marilyn Lee, Cathy Lee, Mary Jordan-Lee,
Christie Lee and Sandra Lett; twenty-eight grandchildren, two of whom they raised,
Jason (Tashina) Lee and James M. Lee, Dominick (Janice) Lewis, Reginald (Kim)
Patterson, Reuben Gully, Roderick (Whitney) Gulley, Reginald Gulley, Tomiko
(Reginald) Daffin, Michelle (Marvin) Parson, Jacinta (Floyd) Figures, Quantis Gulley,
Qumaree Gulley, Joe Gulley, Journee Gulley, Charles (Armisha) Taylor, Jewanda
(Marvin) Lowe, Carlos (Meredith) Taylor, Alfred (Jawanna) Lee, III, Lakeisha (David)
Small, LaCarria (Courtney) Williams, and Lasandra (Robert) Pettaway, James Edward
(Yotarsha) Lee, Jr., Rashaun Lee, Donald Lee, Jerome (Celestine) King, Jayla Lee, Pierre
Sanders, Jack Bradwell and Alex Neal; forty-five great grandchildren; 15 great-great
grandchildren; 2 great-great-great grandchildren; brother-in-law, Robert (Ola Mae)
Brazile; sister-in-law, Margie Brazile; a host of nephews and nieces; godchildren,
Adrian Marshall, Clint Stallworth, Jr., and William James, III; and devoted friends,
Albert James, Melvin Smith, William James, II, Terry Hamilton, and his family at Riley
Stuart Company.