Susan Lee

She was born in Gadsden on May 3, 1955 and lived in Rainbow City most of her life. She graduated from Southside High School in 1973 and attended Berry College. She graduated from the University of Alabama-Gadsden with a bachelor’s degree in English. She worked for many years at Gadsden Regional Medical Center, where she retired in 2020.

Even though she spent her entire career assisting and caring for patients at the hospital, she poured her mind, body and spirit into loving her family. Always putting other’s needs ahead of her own, she was always there to cheer you up, and her beautiful sense of humor could always bring out a smile.

She was a lover of the arts, especially literature and music. She was a gifted saxophone player and earned the honor of being a member of the United States Honor Band. She was also known for serenading her family on their baby grand piano, and her rendition of Gone With the Wind-Tara’s Theme would bring her father to tears every time.

She was forever selfless with herself and her time, especially when spending it with her nieces and nephews and their children. Countless hours of her life were enjoyed with each of them, playing card games and board games, deservedly earning the affectionate title of Queen of Uno, even though she was always nice enough to let them win. Always a kid at heart, she knew how to make them feel special and would often be found at family reunions sitting at the kiddie table to be close to them.

She loved being at the beach and feeling the sand and the ocean beneath her feet, so much so that one of her mottos in life was to Flip Flop on Forever.

She is survived by her sisters, Teresa Lee Mabrey of Opelika, and Leslie Lee White (Bryan) of Rainbow City; nieces and nephews that she treated as her own children including Mary Mabrey Gamblin of Evansville, IN, Jason Lee (Amy) of Chelsea, Tyler Mabrey (Beth Ann) of Auburn, Robert Lee (Sara) of Glencoe, and Renee Lee Ludwick (Aaron) of Farmington, UT.

She was preceded in death by her mother and father, Robert E. Lee Jr. and Irene Oliver Lee; and her grandparents, Robert E. Lee Sr. and Pluma Hood Lee and James William Oliver and Lizzie Wooten Oliver.

Pallbearers will be Robert Lee, Tyler Mabrey, Jason Lee, Bryan White, Aaron Ludwick, and Mark McEntyre.

Visitation for Susan will be Friday April 25 from 7:00-9:00pm at Collier-Butler Funeral Home.

Graveside services will be held on Saturday, April 26, at the Lee Family Cemetery in Rainbow City at 11:00am. Rev. John Oliver will be officiating, and Collier-Butler Funeral Home is directing. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lee Family Cemetery Fund, 1925 June Bug Lane, Rainbow City, AL 35906.