Monday, March 7, 2011

For the love of Lee

Lee Henderson Lewis was a spring baby, my oldest sister and second oldest of the 5 of us.
Lee was smarter, older, wiser, prettier, kinder, classier and very tender hearted.
What many of you did not know was how very brave and fearless she was.
When faced with melanoma of the eye about 5 years ago she was given the option of having her eye removed.
Not an option that any one who makes their living as an artist would even want to face.
But face it she did.
They removed her eye and she moved on to continue to do the things she loved.
Lee and her partner Tony work mostly doing commercial Faux finishing.
They worked on many of the restaurants and buildings in the Raleigh area.
It was nothing for Lee to climb up 50 feet to do a job.
And she did.
She rarely ever complained about the hand she was given to play out.
Two  years ago she pushed me to a place in clay I had never gone.
Without her encouragement and sisterly persistence I would have never tackled the Jungle House tile Mural.
With her love and support it was done and delivered last November.
While I was working on it our oldest brother, Jay, died.
On the day he died I was working on the tile mural and I placed his name and date of death on one of the tiles.
I showed it to her and she loved it.
I also placed her name, mine and Mark's on a tile when it was done.

 Lee passed quietly into the night with Tony at her side.
I hope whenever she is that the paints are true, the canvass tight and the powers that be ready, I  know she will be putting them all to work.

We love her dearly and will miss her always.

Safe travels and Peace be at your side, along with fields of butterflies and hummingbirds.





M

21 comments:

JLK Jewelry said...

Meredith, I am so sorry for you and all your family. Lee was an amzing woman and brought a lot of beautiful things o this world.

Gary's third pottery blog said...

oh gosh, how awful, so terribly sad!

Hollis Engley said...

Dee and I are so sorry to hear this, Meredith. We wish we'd had a chance to meet Lee. We hope you and Mark and Les and the rest of your family come into an easier time than the past couple of years. No one should go through all that.

Tracey Broome said...

I know how hard this post must have been to write because it was very hard to read. Tell Lee that as I read it, I heard hammering outside, so her spirit will be with my new studio, I learned of her death as my studio is becoming a living thing! Peace be with you and your family this week, I'll be thinking of you!!!!!
xoxo

Trish said...

Grace and Strength to you and yours, Meredith.
Trish

Michèle Hastings said...

so sorry to hear of your loss. please know that our thoughts are with you and your family.
~m & j

Laurie said...

Keeping you close to my heart, and hugging you from afar.

Peter said...

So sorry to read that Lee has died, she sounds like she was a wonderful person of great courage, and a lovely sister for you and partner to Tony. Our thoughts and sincere sympathy are with you all the way from NZ. Peter & Laura

deanandmartinpottery said...

We are so sorry to hear about the passing of your sister. Our thoughts and prayers will be with you and your family during this time. Thank you for sharing your sister with us in this most difficult post. Lee must have been great at what she did. I know she was very proud of the work that you and Mark do. We want you to know if we can do anything for you during this time please call. May you all have strength and peace during these days.

Jeff and Stephanie

Mr. Young said...

Know that our prayers for peace and comfort go out to you and yours. From the other side of the world,
Rev. Robert Young
(TropiClay)

John Bauman said...

Beautifully said. My sincere condolences.

John

Unknown said...

A strong and inspirational person... may she visit you often in your dreams to let you know that her love and support continue from a different perspective.

Love to you and your family~

smartcat said...

I'm so very sorry to hear of your sister's death. Your and yours are in my thoughts.

Peace.......~S~

cookingwithgas said...

thank you all this has been a hard two days with more to come but it helps to hear such kind words and thoughts.
M

powen liu 劉博文 said...

I am sorry to hear this. She will be in our memories.

Linda Starr said...

I just got back home and I am so sorry to hear about Lee. My heart goes out to you, Meredith, and Mark and your family. May the Peace of the Sea Be with you all and to Lee on her journey.

Paula Henderson Pottery said...

Sorry for your loss. May you find some peace in knowing she will live forever in your heart and fond memories.

Marguerite said...

So sorry for your loss. Such a lovely tribute to your dear sister. I will keep you and your family in my prayers, during this difficult time.

Christine said...

So sorry to read this. A lovely tribute to a wonderful sister who you will sorely miss.

annie said...

My thoughts and prayers are with your family through this time. What a wonderful tribute to a woman who was obviously loved so very much. May we all be so lucky to be blessed by one in our lives

Anonymous said...

hi meredith,
i was so sorry to hear about lee, it seems to have happened so fast. i can tell from what you've written about lee and jay that you all were a very tight and loving family. my heart goes out to you and your family. i hope you all are doing ok, hang in there.