Carl was born August 4, 1938 in Fulton, Mo to Ennis Lee & Lucille (George) Brooks. On June 9, 2017, he married Joyce (Galbreath) Lee. She survived his passing. He first attended high school at Jefferson City for his freshman & sophomore years due to segregation and Jim Crow Standards. In 1954, Carl got to attend his junior year at Fulton High school when it became unsegregated. He made an impact in football, basketball and track. Carl was even co-captain for Football & Basketball. He graduated from Fulton High School in 1956. Carl followed that up with Lincoln University. He played half-back & defensive back for Lincoln's Blue Tigers Football team from 1957 to 1959. Carl helped the Blue Tigers win both the MWAA Championship and Mineral Water Bowl in 1958. After graduating in 1960 from Lincoln, he went into the United States Army Reserve as a second Lieutenant. In 1965, Carl was hired at Fulton High School as a teacher and coach. Carl became Fulton High School's first black coach. His career at Fulton High School lasted for 29 years until he retired in 1994. After that, most people addressed him as Coach or Mr. Lee. Carl was a member of Second Christian Church of Fulton, MO. Carl liked singing, watching sports, but most of all serving God. He was inducted into Fulton High School's Wall of Fame in 2002. Carl was inducted into Lincoln University's Hall Of Fame in 2019. Fulton Middle School named their gym after Carl in 2019. In 2020, he was installed as a deacon at Second Christian Church.
Survivors include: his wife of 4 years, Joyce, & her daughter Yolanda; five sisters, Joyce, Trudie (Arthur), Carolyn (Joe), Bobbie, Carrie Kelly; one brother, Clifford (Helen); six children, Thaddeus Lee of Fort Worth, TX, Carlous Lee of Fulton, MO, Kerman Lee of Arlington, TX, Vanessa Lee of Allen, TX, Karma Lee of Fulton, MO and Chris Pittmon (April) of Fulton, MO; numerous step-children; a very special friend Denzel Weaver of Fulton, MO; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Carl was preceded in death by his parents; his stepbrother, Junior Brooks and granddaughter, Chrisha Mae Pittman.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, November 7, 2021 from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm at Debo Funeral Home, Fulton, MO. Funeral service be on Monday, November 8, 2021 at 1:00 pm at Second Christian Church in Fulton, MO with Rev. Cedric Harris officiating. Burial will follow in Southside Cemetery, Fulton, MO.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the charity of the donor’s choice, c/o Debo Funeral Home, 833 Court St, Fulton, MO 65251.
