Michael E. "Mike" Lee, Sr.

Michael E “Mike” Lee, Sr., 70, of Rutledge, GA, passed away on June 19, 2024. Born December 18, 1953, in Atlanta, GA, to Henry E Lee, Jr and Joyce Evans Lee, Mike grew up in Dekalb County; he participated in sports and joined the Boy Scouts. As a student at Gordon High School, he was on the soccer team, which started a lifelong love of the sport he passed on to his children. He was introduced to his wife, Pam, through mutual friends in December of 1981; they were married July 14, 1984.
Mike moved to Conyers, GA, in 1976 and began volunteering shortly after with the Rockdale County and City of Conyers Fire Departments. He became a full-time employee with the Conyers Fire Department in August 1982. He worked his way up to Lieutenant and held that rank through the merger with Rockdale County Fire until he became the Deputy Chief of Training in 1995. With Rockdale, he held various positions until his retirement in May 2011. Over his 30-year career, Mike had been very involved in the fire service throughout the state of Georgia. His accomplishments include Georgia Smoke Diver #287, founding member of the GEMA Type 3 Incident Management Team, and the first career structural firefighter invited to join the Southern Area Type 2 Incident Management Team. In his retirement, Mike and Pam were avid campers, visiting all of the Lower 48. They were very involved with the food bank at Newborn Methodist Church. He also spent many hours a week being Chief to his grandkids.

Mike is survived by his wife of 40 years, Pam Lee of Rutledge, GA, sons Michael Lee, Jr. (Chelsea) of Newnan, GA, and Sam Lee (Erin) of Rutledge, GA, grandchildren Henry and Heidi Lee, and his sister Deborah Stowell (Kevin). He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Joyce.

Visitation will be at Caldwell & Cowan Funeral Home in Covington, GA, from 2-315 PM on Friday, June 28, 2024, with a memorial service immediately following. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Mike’s name to the Disciples for Christ Food Ministry c/o Newborn Methodist Church, 118 Church St, Newborn, GA 30056.