Obituary of John Martin LEE, Jr., Ouachita Parish, Louisiana Submitted by: Henry LeRoy(Hank)JOHNS III 5403 James Road North Little Rock, Arkansas 72118 Source: The News-Star Date: October 2, 1909 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** The News-Star Saturday, October 2, 1909 Page 4, Column 2 JOHN M. LEE, JR., DEAD Former Well Known Citizen of Monroe Dies in New Orleans Mr. John M. Lee, Jr., for many years a resident of this city, died at his home in New Orleans this morning at 4 o'clock. He was in his fifty-ninth year. During his residence here, Mr. Lee was general land agent of the (?). S.& P. railroad, later accepting a similar position with the Southern Pacific Company, when he moved his residence to New Orleans. Mr. Lee was considered one of the best posted men on railroad matters in the State and his services were invaluable to the railroad companies he represented. Mr. Lee was a native of Union parish where he had many relatives and numbered his friends by his acquaintances, as was the case wherever he was known. He was a man of a genial disposition and spread sunshine wherever he went. Mr. Lee was a frequent visitor to Monroe up to the time of his confinement several months ago when he was forced to undergo an operation, and he always seemed to regard Monroe as his home. Mr. Lee is survived by his wife and three children, Mrs. H.R. Speed and Mrs. J. R. Wooten of this city, and Mr. Burch Lee of Minden, Capt. Wood Lee, his older son, died during the Spanish-American War while in command of the Pelican Rifles of Baton Rouge. The funeral services will be held in this city at the residence of Mr. H.R. Speed at 3:30 o'clock tomorrow (Sunday) afternoon. The remains will arrive tomorrow morning from New Orleans accompanied by a Masonic escort. A committee from Western Star Lodge, of which he was a member, will meet the remains at Alexandria and escort them to Monroe. The funeral services will be conducted by Rev. J. (?) H. Wharton of the Baptist church of which Mr. Lee was a devout member. Following the church services the remains will be turned over to Western Star Lodge to be interred with Masonic honors. Stonewall Lodge Knights of Pythias will also attend the funeral in a body. The members of the Masonic and Knights of Pythias lodges are requested to meet at their respective lodge halls at 2:30 Sunday afternoon. The News-Star Monday, October 4, 1909 Page 2, Column 3 The Funeral of Mr. J.M. Lee, Jr. On yesterday morning the remains of Mr. J.M. Lee, Jr., of New Orleans, accompanied by the bereaved family and friends under a special Masonic escort from New Orleans, and one from Monroe who joined the party at Alexandria arrived in the city on a private car at 9:30 o'clock. At the depot, the remains were met by a large number of friends, and a committee from the Western Star Lodge No. 24 and escorted to the home of Mr. And Mrs. H.R. Speed, where the services were held on yesterday afternoon. At 3:30, the hour appointed for the funeral, the home of Mr. H.R. Speed was banked with floral offerings and filled to overflowing with friends of the deceased, not only from Monroe, but from Vicksburg, Farmerville and the nearby towns, where Mr. Lee was loved, honored and respected. Rev. J.U.H. Wharton, pastor of the Baptist church and intimate friend of Mr. Lee, conducted the services, during which was most feelingly and expressively sung the beautiful hymns, "Lead Kindly Light", and "Nearer My God to Thee". In his remarks over his cherished friend, Mr. Wharton referred to a long (NEWSPAPER IS TORN AT THIS POINT) -ing which time he knew him, as a public spirited gentleman, ever ready to promote the progress and upbuilding of the town or community in which he lived. As a devoted husband thoughtful and affectionate, as a father, kind, generous, and watchful, as a friend, true and sincere, as a Christian character, steady and firm, ready to answer the summons, which came as a gentle sleep, for the beating heart was softly touched by the finger of God and all was gently stilled. By a strange working of Providence, Mr. Wharton conducted the burial services over Mr. Lee's father and wrote the obituary, though to a different State, to the memory of his mother, and while stated Mr. Wharton, though this was a most trying occasion, if it was God's will, he was flad to be able to make this testimony, sacred to the memory of Mr. Lee. At the conclusion of Rev. Mr. Wharton's remarks, the Masonic order took charge, the services being conducted in part at the residence. The remains were carried through a beautiful passage way of flowers, tributes of love and friendship, by the Masonic pall bearers to the hearse. Messrs. F. P. Stubbs, D.A. Breard, G.M. Crook, R.B. Frizzel, G.P. Stubbs, J.W. Hyams of New Orleans, acting in that capacity. The honorary pall bearers were Messrs. W. Millsaps, J.T. Cole, Jno. E. Morris, R.M. McClendon, R.L. Rinehart, H.L. Gregg of West Monroe, Dr. W.L. Jones and Mr. R.P. Webb of Monroe, and Mr. St. Martin of New Orleans. The remains were followed to the Monroe Cemetery by a large concorse of friends and laid to rest with Masonic honors. Hon. Frederick Speed of Vicksburg, Past Grand Master of the State of Mississippi paid a fitting tribute to the memory of his friend and fraternal brother, Mr. Lee. () friends to accompany the () from New Orleans and to re() with them on the special this evening are: Mr. W. Moss, Past Grand Master of the State and member of Jefferson Lodge No. 191, Mr. Aaron Steeg, editor of the Square and Compass, Mr. Jos. Hyams, ex-speaker of the House of Representitives at Baton Rouge, Mr. St. Martin, sheriff of Jefferson parish, Messrs. Lynton Stubbs, J.M. Lee, Mrs. Hacket and Mrs. T.O. Lowry of New Orleans. Mr. Lee leaves a widow, two daughters, Madames J.R. Wooten and H.R. Speed of Monroe, and one son, Mr. W.B. Lee of Minden, to whom in their sas bereavement the News-Star offers sincerest sympathies. # # #