Luevetria Lee

Our beloved Ms. Luevetria Lee (Dawson) passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by family the afternoon of March 12, 2025. Known endearingly to many as “Madea”, “Momo”, and “Great,” she was born on July 14, 1934, in Tarry, Arkansas to the late James Thomas Dawson of Gould, Arkansas and the late Elizabeth McNealy of Tarry, Arkansas.

A self-described “daddy’s girl” she married Henry Lee, Jr in 1953 and to this union, 11 children were born. In addition to raising her children, she also worked domestically in Arkansas where she lived until she moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota at the age of forty-seven. In 1994, she moved to Anchorage,Alaska and worked part-time as a senior care companion for The Salvation Army. In 2001, she moved to Portland, Oregon where she worked for the AARP foundation. She loved Portland and considered the city as her home. She lived there for 22 years before moving to the suburb of Houston Texas in 2022 where she lived out her remaining days.

Luevetria served as the Matriarch and foundation of her family. She proudly touted her “Dawson blood” as the source of her strength. She loved her family deeply and was extremely proud of her children and a devoted mother. In her later years, she travelled internationally and experienced visiting different countries cultures in Europe, South America, and the Middle East. A woman of infinite wisdom and humor, she could make one reflect as easily as she could make one laugh. She was baptized at an early age and remained a strong woman of faith, her trust, “rest in the Lord”. She lived a rich, full, and blessed life! Blessed is the word she always used to describe her circumstances, no matter what that circumstance might have been. One of the two last sentences that she spoke before passing was “Good Morning, I’m Blessed”.

She was preceded in death by her husband Henry Lee, Jr; (2) sons, Sedrick Lee, Willie Junior Lee; (2) grandsons, Jerry Ralph Stanley, Jr., Jomoy Tremayne Lee; (1) great-grandson, Charles Kentrell Jones; (1) great-great granddaughter, Leilani LeAnn Lee; (4) sisters, Hazel Nelson, Annie Berta Brand, Zeola Owens,Louella Lee (Dawson); (4) brothers, Perry Dawson, Sam Nelson, Spencer Nelson, and Curlee Atkinson.

Luevetria Lee leaves to cherish her memories: (6) daughters, Bonnie Lee-Hall of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Ruthie Lee-Jordan of Opelika, Alabama; Ann Lee Dawson of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Flora Nockleby of Alvin, Texas; Linda Lee of Portland, Oregon; Shelia Rush of Rosharon, Texas; (3) sons,Henry James Lee, James Earl Thomas Lee, Davry (David) Leeof Portland, Oregon; (1) brother Jeremiah Maples of Alexandra, Arkansas; (29) grandchildren; (87) great-grandchildren; (23) great-great grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.