Hattie Lorraine Russell Lee died peacefully on Monday, June 3, 2024, at Skyland Care Center in Sylva, NC, where she had resided the last few years. Family was present. She was 97 years old. Born on March 7, 1927, she was the only child of Ernest (Ernie) Leonard Russell and Eurie Vesta Adams Russell of Athens, TN.

She was preceded in death by her son, Robert Ernie, great-grand son, Isaac Lee

Kelly, and her husband, Dr. William (Bill) Lee with whom she shared an amazing life for sixty-nine years.

Surviving members of her family include: her children: Linda (Lee) Minor of Sylva, NC, Laura (Tom) Cook of Rock Hill, SC, and Dr. Luke (Nora) Lee of Jonesborough, TN.; her grandchildren: Tamara (Tom) Kelly, Travis Turrentine, John (Lindsay) Cook, Russell (Taylor) Cook, Mallory (Alex) Collins, Dr. Matthew (Laura) Lee, and Dr. Megan Lee; and, her great-grandchildren: Adam Kelly, Mary Kelly, Keaton Turrentine, Salem Turrentine, Camryn Collins, Chandler Collins, Cayden Collins, Addie Cook, Watson Cook, Ellis Cook, and Grady Cook.

Affectionately known as "Ms. Hattie", Lorraine never missed an opportunity to share the love of Christ. In a variety of ways she touched and made a difference in the lives of many. In Ducktown, TN. where Dr. Lee and she lived and raised their family for over 50 years, it was never a surprise to see an invited stranger or an unexpected passer-by sitting at their kitchen table enjoying a home cooked meal and talking about Jesus. Long before Meals on Wheels, plates of food were often delivered to those in the community who had little or none.

Lorraine was active in promoting community events whether behind the scenes or in leadership. First Tuesdays began as a monthly effort by Lorraine and Dr. Lee to give folks space to share their musical, storytelling, and dancing talents. She was instrumental in the formation of Ducktown's Basin Museum which has continued to grow and develop into sharing the rich history of the Copper Basin. She was a long time leader in Girl Scouts and a Den Mother for the Boy Scouts. Ms. Hattie and Dr. Lee helped initiate free Medical Clinics in the Blue Ridge, GA area to specially focus on needs of the Hispanic population. During these clinics physical needs were addressed, medicines were dispensed, vision was checked, glasses were provided, and most importantly, they learned about Jesus.

She served in multiple roles through the efforts of her home church, First Baptist Church of McCaysville GA.-Copperhill, TN. She taught Sunday School, Vacation Bible Study, AWANA, and was proud of the Women's Missionary Union as they not only helped meet the needs of the community, but also reached out to needs across the world. She initiated "Stitches of Love" which continues to this day. Over the years, this ever evolving group of church ladies meet weekly for devotions, Bible Study, prayer, and to crochet, knit, quilt, and sew items which are given to those in need. This group began with making helmet liners for our soldiers in Afghanistan. During Covid they crocheted/knitted 500 toboggans. Crocheted washcloths were sent to members of the military and often included in the Children's Shoe Box Ministry of Samaritan's Purse.

In 1964, Lorraine and Dr. Bill answered God's call to begin volunteering as missionaries. Together they served on sixty-four mission trips to assist with the medical, visual, physical, and spiritual needs of "the least of these". These mission trips took them to forty-five locations abroad and nineteen trips within the United States. They served Christ in multiple locations throughout North America, Central America, South America, Africa, China, Russia, Kyrgyuzstan, India, Jordan, Philippines, and the Caribbean. Upon returning from a mission trip, they shared their experiences with churches and interested community groups. On some of these trips, she and Dr. Lee were able to help distribute some of the Samaritan's Shoe Boxes when serving with the Billy/Franklin Graham mission efforts.

Lorraine loved her family dearly as they loved her. She was happiest when family celebrations brought everyone together. She embodied the quote, "There is a special beauty in a Mother's love". She believed in and cherished each family member for their unique talents and skills. She was proud to be a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She smiled with a twinkle in her eye when learning of a wedding or new baby on the way. She delighted in calling each family member on their birthday to sing her original animated rendition of "Happy Birthday". Lorraine believed that "Family is where life begins and love never ends".

Friends were important to Lorraine. She continually kept up with childhood friends by phone and visits. New acquaintances quickly became friends. Missionaries with whom she and Dr. Lee served on the mission fields across the world were never forgotten. Birthday phone calls were considered a time for her to catch up with their lives and was always excited to learn of their recent mission experiences and how "God showed-up and showed out". She looked forward to the monthly outings of the Red Hat Club. Wearing hats to such events was not new to her. She had been wearing hats to church every Sunday for years.

Ms. Hattie was adventurous. Hiking several sections of the lower Appalachian Trail with friends, riding horses across the red hills around Ducktown, canoeing the Hiawassee River and other local rivers with family, and rafting down the Nantahala River with strangers. She was up for whatever opportunity arose. She could pack a picnic lunch in a flash to quickly hit the road for whatever was next.

To the surprise of some, Lorraine was competitive always striving to do and be the best while offering the most. From playing jacks, hop scotch, climbing trees, playing solitaire or even BINGO, she wanted to win. However, she was gracious when someone else won. When traveling to multiple horse shows throughout the years, she could be found standing directly beside the time keeper with her own stop watch to time her children racing across the finish line when running the barrels...just to make sure things were on the up and up. It was understood by the family that if returning from a horse show late on a Saturday night, all were expected to be in Sunday School and church that Sunday morning. Her competitive spirit served her well throughout life as she embraced many challenges many of which were physical. After several accidental falls her "never give up" attitude brought her back to living an active, joyful, and grateful life. She lived and followed the motto, "Where there's a will, there's a way". Upon waking each morning, she routinely got up, dressed, put on her shoes, combed her hair, and applied makeup and lipstick. A Skyland staff member shared with the family that Ms. Hattie, wanted her to promise to always remember "When life happens, don't give up." Recently, upon going outside for a stroll around Skyland Care Center, she spoke of God's beautiful world and His many blessings. She enjoyed watching the change of seasons. The variety of birds visiting her bird feeders were a daily topic of conversation as she kept the feeders filled. Though she liked them all, her favorite was the hummingbird beaming with joy at their first sighting each spring. Within the last few weeks, she was heard saying that, "Life is just too short".

A Celebration of Life and Graveside Services were conducted at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 15, 2024, at Crestlawn Cemetery in McCaysville, GA. Rev. Henry Ethridge, Rev. Harry Gilbert, and Rev. Claude Mathis offered prayers, read scriptures, lead in song, shared reflections and remembrances while offering hope and encouragement. Pallbearers were her grandsons and great-grandsons: Travis Turrentine, John Cook, Russell Cook, Dr. Matt Lee, Adam Kelly, and Keaton Turrentine. Honorary Pallbearers were her great-grandsons: Watson Cook, Camryn Collins, Chandler Collins, Cayden Collins, and Grady Cook.

In loving memory of "Ms. Hattie" we are all encouraged to follow her example of serving others and sharing Jesus by offering kindness seen or unseen to one person known or unknown daily along our own life's journey.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.akinscobb.com. Akins-Cobb Funerals & Cremations located in Copperhill, TN, was assisting with the arrangements.

In lieu of the flowers, the family requests donations to be made to the Legacy Fund at First Baptist Church, 669 W. Main St., Sylva, NC 28779 where she was under their Watch Care during these last 10 years while living in Sylva. Donations may also be made to her home church, First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 867, McCaysville, GA 30555.

The family expresses a special thank you to all the staff at Skyland Care Center in Sylva, NC, for their excellent professional, compassionate care, support, and understanding during the last four years.

Thank you, also, to the members of the First Baptist Church of Sylva, NC where Lorraine instantly found a warm, loving, accepting, and rich faithful Christian family. The family is humbly grateful.