Sometimes we have to go back to a point of reference to see how far we have really come. Thomas Lee Sr., I will surely miss you. You were my lifelong friend and former business associate who set a standard of excellence in everything he did. Whether it was as captain of the R.E. Hunt High Hornets football team; one of the original first Columbus Black police officers who broke many racial barriers; one of the hardest-working members of the Lowndes County Industrial Board; The LINK; a longtime employee of Sears with more than 25 years of service and a top appliance salesman year after year; or a maker and shaker in the Black business community as owner and funeral director at Lee-Sykes Funeral Home since its inception in 1992 — whereby I was there in the beginning along with his wife, Kaye Lee, and know all too well the many hurdles and obstacles we had to overcome to make his dream of owning a funeral home a reality.
We now pay tribute to this wonderful man, his life and his legacy, which will never be forgotten in the annals of Columbians who truly made a difference in their community, their city, and the countless lives of others in their time of need. So I’ll just say, rest well, my dear friend and buddy. Enjoy your flight, for I will see you after a while.
Larry Watson
Columbus
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 36 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
