Obituary for Effie Jean (Jennings) Lee

~ Celebrating the Life of our beloved Mom, Mama, Grandma ~

Effie Jean (Jennings) Lee

Age 87, of Minneapolis, passed away on November 19, 2024

Born December 16, 1936, in DeKalb, Mississippi to parents Homer Clifton Jennings (Jumper) and Annie Lee McKinnis Jennings (Ma Dee).Effie was the middle child of nine children.

Effie attended Alcorn College majoring in Commercial Dietetics, then transferred to Tuskegee Institute, where she met who would end up being the love of her life, Julius Albert Lee.Both would end up in Minnesota as luck (AND God) would have it.

Effie and Julius were married March 24, 1962, and were blessed with two sons, Julius Albert Lee, Jr (Jay) and Jarvis Randal Lee.

Grandkids Julius Albert Lee, III (Tre) and Me-ja Kim Lee were loved and spoiled endlessly, as only grandma’s do. Friday muffin making, up to the park, ice cream for breakfast, Bob the Builder and Disney on Ice, Florida/Disney, Mexico! Andre and Devante became grandkids in 2010, and she welcomed them with an open heart and lots of love!

Effie knew early that she would be a food service industry extraordinaire! She brought her expertise to manage food programs at University of Minnesota, Young Quinlan, SALAAM Catering, Dayton’s/Marshall Fields, and Byerly’s, where she prided herself on making as much food from scratch as possible.To THIS DAY…. we all say NO ONE makes egg salad, stuffing, and sweet potato pie like Mama Lee.

Her well-deserved retirement brought more time to enjoy family, grand kids, travel and the church.

Effie joined and was baptized into Zion Baptist Church, now Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church.Her church service throughout the years included Sunday School Teacher for children grades 1-5.Effie was an active member of the Harriet Tubman Mission Group as well as the Senior Ministry Team.

Effie is preceded in death by Husband, Julius; Father, Homer; Mother, Annie Lee; Siblings, Dora Dean, Genious (Bow), Hattie, Jonnie (Bill), Leana Kate, Vinnie (Florine), Alpha (Desiree); Beloved “parents” The Merzell’s.

Survived by Children, Julius Jr (Molly Lee), Jarvis (Tracy Watson); Grand kids, Julius III (Tre) (Dani Wagner), Me-ja, Andre Knox-Ova (Mark Knox-Ova), Devante Childress; Loving Sister, Mary Louis; many additional loved Nieces, Nephews, Cousins; cherished friends that were family, Lovia Atkins, Mike and Jorina Andrews, Janet Holman, Deacon Clementine Reid, Francis and Patricia Pink among others.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Wednesday, December 4, 2024 at 11AM at Fellowship Mission Baptist Church, 3355 N 4th Street, Minneapolis, MN. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. A private family interment will take place at Fort Snelling National Cemetery at a later date.

Effie truly was a woman of GREAT, EXTENSIVE LOVE and FAITH, dedicated to her family, friends and community.

Mom, Mama, Grandma ~ You are free, reunited with Dad/Grandpa ~ Until We Meet Again ~ We LOVE you ~