A short story about us

In the rich soil of history, where resilience grows like towering oaks, the story of our family begins. A tale of endurance, sacrifice, and an unbreakable promise that shaped generations to come. Our ancestors, Emma Lee (1860) and Lewis Lee (1843) were born in Alabama, a land both burdened and blessed with history. Descended from those who had once been bound in chains, Lewis and Emma both carried the weight of survival and hope of freedom in their blood. Through the whispered stories of elders, we know that before settling in Alabama, our ancestors came from the ports of South Carolina, walking the long, grueling path to Tuscaloosa, Alabama- each step a testament to their will to build a better future. Later came Obie Lee, born in 1880 and with his beautiful wife, Virginia Gordon, they welcomed Will, Ulato, Rozelle, Atherstine and James.

Together, they held fast to the values that carried their family-pride, education, and love. It is said that when Obie died, he asked his son Ulato Lee to "take care of the family", and that he did. Through the American era of "The Great Migration", he and his siblings came to Los Angeles with their families to embark on a new life. As we gather this year, we are not just remembering the past, WE the Los Angeles and Long Beach LEE FAMILY are living proof of its legacy. The strength of Lewis, Emma, Obie, and Virginia Lee run through us. Their sacrifices built the foundation we stand upon today. And so, we honor them. We remember them, and we promise-just as they did-to take care of one another, to uplift one another, and continue the journey they began.