John was born October 16‚ 1946‚ in Fort Valley‚ Georgia‚ to Jack and Dot Lee. He grew up in Ft. Valley and graduated from high school there in 1964. He graduated from Georgia Southwestern University in Americus‚ Georgia‚ in the late 1960s. He married his high school sweetheart‚ Sandra Sandy Eddins‚ in 1966. John and Sandy have two sons‚ John E. Lee IV and Sean Lee. In 1975‚ John‚ Sandy‚ and their family moved to Pelham‚ Alabama. John and Sandy joined the family business‚ Eddins & Lee Bus Sales‚ started by Sandy’s father‚ Ira Eddins‚ the previous year. John played a major role in the development and growth of the company.

John was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed fishing‚ hunting‚ and camping. After moving to Alabama‚ he also became enthusiastic about backpacking‚ biking‚ running‚ and diving. John became a member of the Pelham Volunteer Fire Department and was always ready to help out with any emergency that came up. He was involved in numerous community activities in Pelham and was named the Chamber of Commerce’s Man of the Year in 1986. He was a manager or coach for teams in the local youth baseball program for nine years. He was a member of the Lions Club‚ Vulcan Trail Association‚ and a clown with the Zamora Shrine. John loved being a clown and enjoyed nothing better than dressing up in his clown outfit and going to the Children’s Hospital to bring a smile to a child’s face with one of his balloon animals or funny antics.

John was a very fun loving‚ outgoing person who never met a stranger. He loved his family and friends and was truly a people person. He had a positive attitude about life and was always willing to help anyone in any way he could. It was no surprise to anyone that John lost his life trying to help someone else. He stopped at the scene of an accident and‚ in trying to cross to the opposite side of the Interstate to reach the car involved‚ fell 70 feet. We realized how much John had meant to the many people whose lives he touched‚ when we received cards and letters from friends‚ family‚ and acquaintances that all said‚ He was my best friend.

John was very close with all of his family‚ and we treasure the happy times we had together. We have many wonderful memories of family reunions‚ holidays‚ vacations‚ and everyday life we all shared with family and friends. He will never be forgotten by those who knew him. He will always be close in our hearts for those of us who love him.