Virginia Elizabeth Smith Lee

Virginia Elizabeth Smith Lee, 94, passed away on the morning of November 21, 2016 at Hill Nursing Home in Idabel, Oklahoma.
Virginia was born March 3, 1922 in Ft. Gibson, Oklahoma. She was the daughter of Charles Oscar Smith and Mary Elizabeth Gandy Smith and was the seventh of seven siblings: Charlene, Nina, Gandy, Howard, Blanche and James, all of whom preceded her in death.

Virginia graduated from Langston University, Langston, Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Science in Vocational Home Economics in 1943. While teaching at Booker T. Washington High School in Idabel, she attended Columbia University where she attained her Master of Science in Education.

On September 12, 1953, she married O. Willard Lee and both continued to teach in Idabel Public Schools until retirement. During their marriage, Virginia gave birth to a daughter, Denise. She adored her step-daughter Lucille, as well.

She joined St. James C.M.E. Church when she relocated to Idabel and maintained membership for 61 years. She was the church pianist and choir director and was well known for her "Hanging of the Greens" Christmas musical.

For 73 years, she was a member of her beloved sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. where she was a charter member of Eta Epsilon Omega chapter in Idabel, Oklahoma and Upsilon Theta Omega chapter in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Her professional experience spanned 40 years as a home economics teacher at Booker T. Washington (20) and Gray High School (20).

Virginia is survived by daughters: Claire Denise Lee Echols, Elwyn Lucille Lee English, Elnora Smith Woods; grand-children: Gregory P. English, Joy X Echols, Lindsay D. Echols, and Shatiffani L. Bagley; God-daughters G. Joy Hill, Kelly H. Thurman, Kristen N. Hill, Michelle Johnson, Jhordon C. Wooten, and several nieces and nephews.