Wednesday
December 25th, 2024
1:41PM
Lee Edwin Scarbrough, Jr. August 4th, 1947 - June 25th, 2024
Lee Edwin Scarbrough, Jr., was born August 4th, 1947, and came into this world feisty, with a strong sense of personal justice that described him to the last minute. He was an animal lover, owning many pets over the years. He loved his Harley’s and loved to ride. He was a Baby Boomer, an Army Brat and the son of MSGT. Lee Edwin Scarbrough, Sr., a career Army soldier and Nell O’Donelly Brownlee Scarbrough, a homemaker, accountant and a devout Christian. His hometown was Atlanta, Georgia, near Fort McPherson, where our dad was mostly stationed. Our family also lived in Orleans, France, and Frankfurt, Germany, when our dad served overseas.
In 1965, as a very young man, Lee enlisted in the U.S. Navy, and served for eight years until 1973, when he was honorably discharged as 2nd Class Petty Officer. During those years, in 1968 and 1969, he served on the U.S.S. Enterprise Aircraft Carrier as an avionics technician, surviving the horrific explosions on-ship on January 14,1969, at Pearl Harbor, when a rocket detonated, killing 27, injuring 314, and destroying 15 out of 32 planes. He was a proud Veteran, proud of his service, and it was rare to see him in public without his Navy hat. In his Navy travels, he fell in love with the Philippines, and always dreamed of retiring there, but it never came to pass. In 1967, he married Albertha (Bert) Gehring, and in 1969, their son, Lee Edwin Scarbrough III, was born. Though Lee and Bert parted ways in 1980, they remained good friends, shared parenting and looked out for one another. Bert has remained an important member of the Scarbrough family. Following his Navy service, he had a ten-year career with Bell South (now AT&T) as a telecommunications technician, and then became independently employed. He worked in construction, ran a tree service and then a painting and pressure washing service. He knew how to do many things and he was a marksman, capable of protecting himself and anyone around him.
In 1990, Lee married Myriam Godoy, who came to this country from Santiago, Chile, and they have been married for thirty-four years. In 2006, his first grandson, Braxton Jeffrey Scarbrough was born, followed by a second grandson, Jaden Lee Scarbrough in 2008, and his granddaughter, Sage Cheryl Scarbrough, in 2010. The proud parents are Bert’s son, Lee Scarbrough III, and our beautiful Tanesha Scarbrough. He loved his grandchildren and all his family, and we all loved him. He and Myriam never missed a family party or gathering, and he also loved his regular IHOP breakfasts with his Veteran buddies and his motorcycle-riding compadres. During all the years that he and Myriam have lived in their home in Snellville, Georgia, he has loved his wonderful neighbors, who were the very best of friends. He told the best, funniest stories, and he had tons of them. Many were repeats and just as funny every time. He has left us all a lifetime of memories and a lot of laughs.
It is very hard to say goodbye. We were not ready. But as we do,
we say a prayer of gratitude for Lee Edwin Scarbrough, Jr., in our lives.
Rest in peace, dear Brother Lee. Your family and friends love you.
Sincerely,
Bonnie Scarbrough Stagner AKA “Baby Sister”
Lee is survived by his wife, Myriam Godoy Scarbrough, his son, Lee Edwin Scarbrough III, daughter-in-law, Tanesha Scarbrough, grandsons, Braxton Jeffrey Scarbrough and Jaden Lee Scarbrough, granddaughter, Sage Cheryl Scarbrough, their grandmother and Lee, Jr.’s first wife, Bert Gehring Scarbrough, sister, Bonnie Scarbrough Stagner, her husband Alan Stagner, his nephews, Michael Allen Stagner and John Martin Stagner, their families, and all our beloved Brownlee cousins.
A Celebration of Life Service, with Military Honors, will be held on Friday, July 19, 2024 at 4:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Flanigan Funeral Home with Pastor David Walters officiating. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday, July 19 from 3:00 p.m. until time for the Service at 4:00 p.m.
To express condolences, please sign our online guest book at www.flaniganfuneralhome.com. Arrangements By: Junior E. Flanigan of Flanigan Funeral Home and Crematory, Buford, GA (770) 932-1133.
