Mae Hannah Abrams. After high school, Lee moved to Birmingham, Alabama and began her
career as an office profession until she met a young Army officer named James M. Crowder.
They would get married on August 26, 1961 and live in Europe, Washington D.C., and Omaha,
Nebraska before making Columbus, Georgia their permanent home.
Lee would support her family both as a homemaker as well as an employee with Columbus
Bank & Trust. She would later go on to complete her Bachelor’s Degree in Early-Childhood
Education at Columbus College and teach at Fox Elementary School. In her free time, Lee was
a long-time member of the Columbus Country Club and various garden clubs. Lastly, she was
always supporting her daughter, Stacey, and grandson, Garrett, in their school and
extracurricular activities.
Lee was preceded in death by her parents and husband, James M. Crowder. She is survived by
her daughter, Stacey Crowder; her grandson, Garrett Vigil; her sister, Joyce Cox (Abrams); her
brother, Jim Brock; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
A private graveside service will be held for the family on February 14, 2025 at Fort Mitchell
National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Lee’s memory to the Columbus Museum.
