Penny Lee Waits

Penny Lee Waits, 78, passed away surrounded by family on July 3rd, 2025. Penny was a beloved member of the Louisville community and a woman of deep conviction, great humor, and unwavering dedication, passed away peacefully, leaving behind a legacy marked by service, song, and spirit.

A longtime and faithful member of Walnut Street Baptist Church, Penny lent her beautiful voice as a first soprano in the Chancel Choir. She was instrumental in founding and organizing the church’s treasured Living Christmas Tree, a tradition that brought light and joy to countless hearts during the holiday season. Her particular love of Christmas extended to her own home, where she was very meticulous about the decorations.

Penny brought that same level of attention and excellence to every aspect of her life. Professionally, she was a dedicated legal secretary and an active member of both the Louisville Legal Secretaries Association and the Kentucky Association of Legal Secretaries. She not only served with distinction but helped shape the very structure of justice in her city, playing a vital role in organizing and supporting judicial campaigns and helping to establish the framework of Louisville’s circuit and district court systems. Often called upon to serve as campaign treasurer, Penny brought order, trust, and clarity wherever she was needed.

Her passions extended beyond the legal world. She was a proud fan of the University of Louisville Cardinals, an enthusiastic Pittsburgh Steelers fan, and a keen follower of horse racing. She also had a special place in her heart for dogs, especially her beloved dachshunds.

To know Penny was to know someone who never missed trash day, who believed in doing things right the first time, and who carried her values into every corner of her life. She was organized, opinionated in the best way, full of love for her community, and endlessly generous with her time and talents. Penny Waits will be deeply missed by her church family, her legal colleagues, her friends, and all who were lucky enough to be part of her world.

Penny is preceded in death by her parents, Sellie and Rita Lee; her sister, Aimee Lee Webb; and three of her sweet pups, Gomez, Butch, and Corkey.

Left to treasure her memory are her son, John Phillip Waits; grandson, John Willis Waits; sister, Melody Lee Burke; nephews, Thomas Glenn Ward and Ryan Daniel Burke; the father of her son, John Wayne Waits; close friends, Latricia King, Phillip Cherry, Bill Paige, and Lauren Claypool; and beloved furry companion, Ogee.

A funeral service for Penny will be held at Evergreen Funeral Home on Tuesday, July 8th, 2025 at 2:00pm with a visitation following from 3:00pm-8:00pm. She will be entombed at Evergreen Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Penny's name can be made to the Cedar Lake Lodge.