Joelle Anne Lee, 64, entered into eternal life Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017. She was born Sept. 8, 1953, in Chateauroux, France, to Charles and Helene Gardner.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Helene Lucienne Gardner.
She is survived by her husband of 41 years, Robert Bryne Lee; father, Charles Gardner; brother, Phillip, and his wife, Deborah Gardner; son, Nicholas Lee, and his wife, Sheila; and daughter, Gretchen Lee. She is also survived by many members of her very close French family.
Joelle was first and foremost the loving wife to her husband and mother of her children upon whom she devoted her life. She was deeply loved by her husband, her father and her children. She retired from the Army & Air Force Exchange Service as the general manager at Fort Campbell, Ky., and was presented by the governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky a Kentucky Colonel commission in recognition of her noteworthy accomplishments and outstanding service to the community, state and nation.
After her retirement, she and her husband became residents of Williamsburg, Va., in August 2009. Her second love was reading and volunteering at Literacy for Life, her daughter’s third grade class at James H. Blackwell Elementary in Richmond, at Clara Byrd Baker Elementary School assisting with kindergarten reading as well as with local high school students with reading. She loved her weekly Mah Jong game with her close neighborhood friends and the local book club.
She was extremely involved as a volunteer with Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center in the cardiology offices and as a finance officer with the Sentara Auxiliary. She also held the office of president for her home owner’s association. Joelle will be sorely missed by all who knew her. She will always be remembered as a wonderful, beautiful and smart lady. Au revoir ma cherie Joelle, je t’aime, beaucoup, beaucoup et encore plus…a toute a l’heure.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 9, at Nelsen Funeral Home, 3785 Strawberry Plains Road, Williamsburg.
We would like to ask family and friends to make a donation to the VCU Massey Cancer Center in lieu of flowers. Click on the “This gift is a tribute” button and then put in your information, along with Joelle Lee’s name. Thank you.
Share online condolences with the family at nelsencares.com.
