John B. Lee

John Bunyan Lee passed into his heavenly home on January 2, 2016 at the age of 88. Funeral services will be held in the chapel at the First Baptist Church of JONESBORO on Thursday, January 7, 2016 at 12:00pm. Dr. Reed Crumbliss will be officiating. Interment to follow at Sherwood Memorial Park. The family will be accepting friends prior to service from 11am-12pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Baptist Church of Forest Park. John was a World War II veteran, entrepreneur and a loving husband, father, and grandfather. John Bunyan Lee was born in Jacksonville, FL in 1927 to Jack Bunyan Lee and Margaret Borenstein Lee. He was the eldest of eight children, and his family moved to Clayton County, GA in 1928. He was an active member of First Baptist Church of Forest Park since childhood and served as a deacon for many years. He enlisted in the US Navy at the age of 18. He served on the USS Hornet Aircraft Carrier CV-12 in 1945-1946. After serving his country, he returned home to Clayton County where he married his beloved wife, Dorothy Evans Lee, in 1949. They were blessed with four children. Mr. Lee was an innovative businessman and entrepreneur. He started his career as an aircraft mechanic for Delta Airlines in 1949. Mr. Lee and his brothers established Bunyon Enterprises in 1956, a company that created potting soil from pine bark that had been previously burned as waste. He was involved in many other business ventures in the Clayton County area. He served as the chairman of the Clayton County Chamber of Commerce. He also served on the board of directors for Clayton County Federal Savings and Loan and Heritage Bank for 40 years. In addition to his many accomplishments in business, he was a devoted family man. Nothing brought him more joy than gathering with all of his children, numerous grandchildren, and great-grandchildren every Christmas and Easter. He loved to travel, and over the years he took many exciting trips with his wife, family and friends. Mr. Lee was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Dorothy Evans Lee; siblings, Margaret Lee Guice, Sydney Maurice Lee, Molly Lee Guice, Franklin Ray Lee, and Clara Elaine Lee; and his grandson, Captain Clayton Lee Wallace. He is survived by his sister, Rachel Lee Thompson, and brother, E. Powell Lee; four children, Pamela Waddy (George) of McDonough, Patricia Wallace (Damon) of Opelika, AL, Jack Lee (Debbie) of Clarkesville, and Peggy Hall (Don) of Macon; 25 grandchildren, and 30 great-grandchildren. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of John B. Lee, please visit our flower store.