Obituary of Jack B Lee III

Jack Lee was born in Harlem, NY to Helen and Jacklyn Berger Lee II, and was raised with his 3 siblings, Carol, Yvonne and Guy. At age 12, Jack became a shoeshine boy on the streets of Harlem. In those days, a shine went for 15 cents. Jack earned Boy Scout merit medals in hiking and knot tying before he moved forward to other things.

Jack's formal education began at Harlem's Elementary School 133 and continued at Frederick Douglass Junior High School (Harlem) and Evander Childs High School (Bronx). Later he attended Bronx Community College, where he earned an associate of arts degree, and City College (New York), where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in psychology.

Jack's first marriage was to his high school sweetheart, Josephine. During their 19 years together, the couple raised a daughter, Sharonda, who today holds the position of Office Manager / Facilities for a New Jersey furniture company. His wife Josephine helped him through college, and she motivated him to go on with a career. So, Jack took the New York State test for medical analyst, passed it, and got a job as a Disability Medical Analyst in Social Security Disability Determinations unit for 27 yrs. It was here that Jack met his estranged second wife, Vanesta Singletary.

Jack became a professional photographer and taught photography for 35 years. Creating an archive of film, he boasts having 35,000 framed images archived. They're divided into three categories- "Jazz," "La Marquetta" and "My Favorite Things.

He was preceded in death by his parents; Helen and Jacklyn B. Lee II, his brother; Guy Lee, his sister; Yvonne Spriggs, and his nephew Mark Lee. 

His profound life will forever be cherished in the lives of his daddy’s girl: Sharonda Chavis; grandchildren: Jonique Lee and Mecca “Choice” Lee Graham; great-grandchildren: Sabra and Araya; surviving sister: Carol Lee; niece LeShelle May, nephews Ekow Ray, Kendall Glasby, Lamar Lee and their families, cousins, host of groups (Harlem Arts Alliance / Group 30) and friends