Ethel Lee Romines Lee, age 94, died on August 29, 2022 in Jacksonville, Fl. Ethel Lee is survived by her son Stephen and wife Linda of Fernandina Beach; her son Bill and wife JoAnn of Ponte Vedra Beach; her daughter Brenda Dufford of Orange Park; and her son-in-law Larry Newton of Jacksonville, husband to Ellen, Ethel Lee's predeceased daughter.
Her grandchildren are Ben Lee of Gainesville (wife Leah and great-granddaughter Nikki); Eric Lee of Jacksonville; Stephanie Dufford of San Diego; Joshua Dufford of Orange Park and Christopher Newton of Jacksonville.
Other surviving relatives include Warren Burton, Craig and Teresa Burton and Donna Alvarez from Maryland; Gerald and Gail Roberts from Jacksonville; Sue Ellen and Jodi Davis from Gainesville and Irving and Norleen Roberts from Palatka.
Ethel Lee was born at home in September, 1927 during the Labor Day parade in Palatka, Florida to parents Roy Damon and Susie Romines. She was only 2 at the time of the Great Depression. At age 5, her father Roy tragically died when a train backed into his car. Ethel Lee was always very close to her mother and her mother's two sisters, Ethel Burton and Virginia Roberts. During her younger years they moved often and lived with one or the other family through tough financial times in Washington, DC. and Palatka.
Ethel Lee went to UNC for two years using the educational policy her father bought when she was born. She later graduated from Duke with a BSN degree and began her career in nursing. After meeting and marrying Silas Poe Lee at Duke University they briefly lived in NC. They moved to Jacksonville where Ethel Lee received her Masters degree from JU. Along with nursing for many years at Baptist Medical Center, Ethel Lee raised her four children while obtaining her doctorate in Education from Nova, all while teaching at San Jose Elementary and DuPont Jr. High School. Ethel Lee later taught nursing to hundreds of students at FCCJ (now FSCJ) until her retirement in 1992.
Ethel Lee attended and adored her church, All Saints Episcopal in Jacksonville. She was a founding member of their Daughters of the King ministry and was active in many of their other volunteer ministries including the thrift store and Meals on Wheels. Ethel Lee also volunteered at the public library, Salzbacher and faithfully volunteered at Community Hospice for many years.
Ethel Lee knew the importance of education and provided for all of her children's college expenses. She would never give up or give in and had boundless energy and a zeal for life. She loved her family and her church and would say so until her last precious breath. She will be greatly missed but now rests with the other saints of Jesus.
In lieu of flowers, any donations in her name can be sent to All Saints Episcopal Church or Community Hospice of NE Fla.
Services to be held on September 17, 2022 at 11:00 AM in All Saints Episcopal Church located at 4171 Hendricks Ave, Jacksonville, Florida.
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