beautiful baby girl on December 8, 1944. They named her Lee Esther Gray. She was
the eleventh child of thirteen children. Lee Esther transitioned to eternal life on June 27,
2024, with her daughter Julia at her side. She is preceded in death by husband Willie B.
Harris, daughter Yolanda M. Loftis, son David B. Harris, sisters: Irene Franklin, Lorraine
Franklin, Beauty Royston, Ola Friday, Verna Turner, brothers: Huey Gray, Sylvester
Gray Jr., Earsey Gray, and Eddie Gray.
Lee was known as Lee Esther, while growing up in a rural farming community in the
Mississippi Delta. The Gray family owned their own land and farm, on which Sylvester
Lee’s father taught her how to farm and garden. She worked alongside her parents and
siblings in their own cotton and vegetable crops, along with their personal garden. Lee
developed superior cooking and seamstress skills from her mother, Ola C. Their
household was religiously strong and her parents emphasized strong moral and ethical
values. They lived and demonstrated the importance of family love and family unity,
instilled with compassion, empathy, consciousness, honesty and respect in all of their
children.
At an early age, Lee Esther became a member of Wonders Homes Missionary Baptist
Church. As a young child, she started singing in the church choir; she loved to sing. In
her late teenage years, she became a member of a professional gospel singing group -
The Marshall Aires. Their performances were live broadcasted on the radio each
Sunday morning.
Lee Esther’s first educational experiences and exposures were through Mrs. Henry Ella
Cleggs. A generous loving woman, who used her large house to provide private lessons
in music and early childhood education. After advancing from Mrs. Cleggs’ early
schooling, Lee Esther attended Mound Bayou High School, where she focused her
studies on becoming a secretary. She was an excellent student and earned an “A” in
both her typing and bookkeeping classes. At the high school, Lee Esther and her
brother, Berlin earned the reputation as the best dancers in their class - she loved to
dance. Also, during her high school years, Lee Esther became a skilled beautician and
cosmetic artist. She provided free services to her classmates and others upon request.
Lee Esther graduated with honors from Mound Bayou High School, in May 1962.
After graduation, she moved to Chicago, IL where she landed her first job at
Montgomery Ward Mail Order House, as a mail order clerk. During the next several
years Lee Esther became known as just Lee to her co-workers, friends, and other
Chicagoans. Additionally, shortly after arriving in Chicago, she met the love of her life
Willie B. Harris, who she called Bill, and they married. She absolutely adored him and
was a devoted wife and caring mother. To their union four children were born: Yolanda,
Eletrice, Julia, and David. Over the next twenty-six years Lee and Bill shared their life
together until his passing. They provided a loving home environment focused on the
teachings of Christian Science.
Lee and the family became members of the Tenth Church of Christ Scientist prior to her
youngest children starting primary school. She had many roles in the Church, the most
prominent being First Reader. As such, she conducted the principal part of the Sunday
services, and the Wednesday evening meetings. For many years, she also facilitated
Sunday School service and transport for the elderly to and from Church. Lee has
remained an active Christian Scientist throughout her life. Lee earned a Bachelor of General Sciences degree from Roosevelt University in Chicago, IL in 1981. She earned a Master of Education degree from Loyola University in Chicago, IL in 1998.
During the year between degrees Lee was a stay at home mom and she worked in
various capacities throughout her life. These included working for the State of Illinois as
a secretary, selling real estate for Betts Realty as a realtor, teaching students who
attended Chicago Public Schools, and establishing her own marketing business. As an
entrepreneur, she continued functioning as a financial planner while promoting the sale
of NSA water filters, air filters, and other products.
From 1994-1998, she was a School Business Manager, which entailed helping
Principals coordinate school budgets and expenses. She transitioned in 1998, after
earning her Master’s and obtaining the State Illinois Insurance License. She began to
work as a financial advisor for then Investors Diversified Services (IDS) which is
currently Ameriprise Financial. She acquired her certification as a financial planner,
earning the CFP designation, then in 2004, she acquired a CRPC (Chartered
Retirement Planning Counselor) certification from the College for Financial Planning.
She worked as a certified financial planner (CFP) and a certified retirement planner
(CRP) for Ameriprise Financial for twenty-two years before retiring in 2010.
She accumulated many accolades during her tenure including: being listed in the
2005-2006 Strathmore’s WHO’S WHO publication for her leadership and achievements.
Lee was a compassionate individual who was dependable, competent, courageous,
academically astute, and had a keen sense of responsibility and leadership. She
maintained her childhood high moral principles and ethical values throughout her life.
Left to cherish her vibrant spirit and loving memories are: Two loving daughters: Eletrice
R. Harris of Duarte, CA, Julia R. Harris, MD of Chicago, IL; three brothers: Charles Gray
of Chicago, IL, Berlin Gray of Indianapolis, IN, Jesse Gray of Mound Bayou, MS;
son-in-law Madison Y. Loftis of Chicago, IL; three grandchildren: Arnie W. Loftis of
Riverdale, IL, Christine S. Loftis of Memphis, TN, Elauna G. Harris-Jones of Chicago,
IL; three great grandchildren: Madison C. Johnson of Memphis, TN, Mariah C. Loftis of
Memphis, TN, Marie A. Loftis of Memphis, TN (who is currently residing in Duarte, CA),
and many nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.
A visitation for Lee Esther will be held Friday, July 5, 2024 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Blake-Lamb Funeral Home, 4727 West 103rd Street, Oak Lawn, IL 60453. Saturday, July 6, 2024; from 9-11 am is a Pre-pass with Continental breakfast available, as well as the second visitation at Blake Lamb Funeral Home, 4727 West 103rd Street, Oak Lawn, IL 60453. Following with a funeral service at 11:00 AM. A graveside service will conclude Saturday at 1:30 PM located at Washington Memory Gardens, 701 Ridge Rd, Thornton, IL 60430.
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