Charles William Lee

Charles William Lee, Jr. was born October 14, 1946 at Humphrey's Clinic in Selmer, Tennessee, the son of Charles William Lee and Beatrice Tackett Lee. His grandparents were Charlie and Ethel Lee of Shiloh and Walter and Beatrice Tackett of Selmer.

He graduated from Selmer High School in 1964 and went on to earn his Bachelor’s Degree from Memphis State University in 1969. While at Memphis State he was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity and played trumpet in the ROTC band. As a young man he worked in his father's grocery store and delivered the Memphis Press-Scimitar Newspaper on a bicycle. After college he moved to Atlanta where throughout the 1970's he held several jobs in sales and advertising. During this time he also worked in a voluntary capacity for the Republican Party until the late seventies when he became a full time employee of the Georgia State Republican Party, eventually serving as State Treasurer for the Young Republicans. In 1981 he went to Washington, D.C. and served in the Reagan Administration in the Department of Labor and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. He also served in the George H.W. Bush administration in the Department of Labor. He eventually returned home and has just recently retired as Director of Head Start for Southwest Tennessee. He served four terms as Chairman of the McNairy County Republican Party and was twice elected to four year terms as a member of the Republican State Executive Committee. He was a member of the Arts In McNairy Board of Directors and played trumpet in the community band. He has also served on various boards and committees.

Charles is survived by his wife Carol Ann Woods, his step-daughter Christie Ann Brinkerhoff and his beloved granddaughter Carrie Ann Diener of Nashville, and stepson William Brinkerhoff of Memphis. He is also survived by his brother Robert Lee (Susan) of Selmer and a niece Rebecca Lee Maddox (Casey) of Fairview and a nephew Robert Kirk Lee Jr. of Nashville. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Following a public funeral service, graveside committal services will be private.

Memorial contributions in memory of Mr. Lee may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.