James Edward Lee

James Edward Lee, also known as Mr. Lee, at the age of 70, went to his heavenly home on October 11, 2021, with his four daughters by his side. Mr. Lee was born in Orangeburg, SC on September 5, 1951 to the late George & Daisy Lee and passed away after a courageous battle with cancer. His elementary education was at Whittaker Elementary, a segregated school for grades K to 6th in Orangeburg, SC. He attended Wilkinson HS, which is now named Orangeburg-Wilkinson HS due to it burning down in the 1960’s in Orangeburg, SC. He had several odd jobs with his first job, notably, being picking cotton for $1.50 a day. His mother moved to New York to give him and his siblings a better life. Living up North was very different for them. James attended and graduated from John Jay HS in 1969. James was a pillar to his family, community, and all those who knew him. He founded L & L Accounting Services in 1985. At that time, he had just become a certified public accountant (CPA) and worked out of his car and basement for several years prior. As L & L continued to grow he moved to renting his first office front in 1986 to now owning his own office building at 1315 Grand Avenue Baldwin. Clients visit the office to specifically see "Mr. Lee". He is well known in the community and is associated with the NATP (National Association of Tax Professionals) as well as the AICPA (American Institute of Certified Public Accountants). Even on his worst days Mr. Lee showed up and refused to retire. It came as a complete and utter shock to most of his clients who received the news, because he never stopped. James loved to laugh, live life, ski, play tennis, golf, and go boating. He was a true athlete and enjoyed jogging daily on his boardwalk in Long Beach. He traveled the world and met so many people along the way. Everyone knows him for being the life of the party, he brought so much joy and touched so many hearts with his kindness and charm. James joins his parents, George & Daisy Lee, his brothers, George Lee, Freddy Lee, Thomas Lee, and John Lee, and sister Mary Lee. James leaves precious memories with his daughters Tonya Lee Speight, Melanie Lee (Michael Coates), Charisse Lee-Leiba (Phillip Leiba),Lakkia-Monet Lee (Eddie DeJesus). Grandchildren, Taylen, Treshawn, and Titeonya Speight, Makiyah and Maryah Betancourt, Madison Coates, Connor Leiba, sisters, Daisy Lee, Stella Williams, Betty Allette, Juanita Barney, Willer Lee. Sisters-in-law, Vernell Lee, Martha Cocum, Adell Lee and brother-in-law, Abe Williams. A host of nieces, nephews, great-nephews, great-nieces, great-great nieces and great-great nephews, family and friends who will also miss him. Lovingly submitted, The Family

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of James Edward Lee, please visit our floral store.