Lee M Brunson, Sr.

LEE M. BRUNSON, SR., 69

Lee M. Brunson, Sr. was born in Mullins, South Carolina on September 23, 1943 to the late Tommy and Elizabeth Davis Brunson. He passed away Sunday, December 23, 2012 at the Lake Wales Medical Center. Lee attended the elementary and secondary schools of Marion County, South Carolina.

At the age of sixteen, Lee decided to leave the tobacco and cotton fields of South Carolina. With his brother, Tommy, who was loving, devoted and always stood by his side; came to Lake Wales and began working as young adults. A man of limited education, but a self-taught, smart, independent, strong-willed and of determined character, Lee joined Laborers Local Union 1240 in the year 1964. Within a few years, Lee became the Business Manager of this Union and remained there until retiring in 2003, fully vested. It is here that Lee would be remembered by so many. Lee refused to allow young black men to work for minimum wages. He fought for equal pay of many laborers with medical benefits, retired benefits and overtime pay above the hourly rate. For years, Lee fought for men and women so that they would be able to work and provide care of their families. It was at the age of sixteen, Lee met Rosa Smith, married in 1962 and to this union, they had six children; Lee, David, Kevin, Jacquelyn, Elizabeth and Michelle. Lee actively played golf and was a Masonic member.

At the age of fifty four, Lee was baptized and became a faithful member of Burkett Chapel Primitive Baptist Church of Bartow, Florida of the Pastorship of Elder Lawrence Moore. Here Lee attended Sunday School, prepared breakfast for the membership and sung in the Male Chorus.

Lee was preceded in death by his father, Tommy Brunson, Sr.; his mother, Elizabeth Davis Brunson; his sister, Annie Brunson Nelson and his brother, William Brunson all of Mullins, South Carolina.

Lee is survived by a loving wife, Rosa Smith Brunson of fifty-one years; three sons, Lee Jr. (Aorline) of Lakeland, Florida, David (Tara) of Lawrenceville, Georgia, and Kevin (Karen) of Ackworth, Georgia; three daughters, Jacquelyn (Vernon), Dianne and Michelle (Dwayne) all of Lake Wales, Florida; three brothers, Tommie (Teretha) of Lake Wales, Florida, John of Mullins, South Carolina and Donald (Andrena) of Silver Springs, Maryland; three sisters, Emma (Trudeau) Reaves of Mullins, South Carolina, Francis Deloris and Ella (James) Savage both of Fair Bluff, North Carolina; two sister-in-laws, Mary Smith of Winter Haven, Florida and Laverne (Luther) Lemon of O’Fallon, Illinois; one brother-in-law, Larry (Joann) of Lake Wales, Florida; nineteen grandchildren, Kenisha, Lawrence, David, Jessica, Chantel, Brandon, Stephanie, Catonicia, Whitney, Matthew, Kevin, Chandler, Chelsea, Marcus, Lamar, Victoria, McKenzye, Lauren and Cana; five great-grandchildren, as well as a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and sorrowing friends.

Funeral service will be held 2:30pm Thursday, December 27, 2012 at the Marion Nelson Funeral Home in Lake Wales with Elder Lawrence Moore, Rev. Kajor Lawson, Rev. Shawn Jackson and Rev. Thaddeus Davis officiating. Interment will follow at the Lake Wales Cemetery. For those who wish, donations may be sent to the American Heart Association (7272 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75231).

To view the chapel service, please click here .