by S. Rotan Hale
There have been many influential ministers over the years that have made their indelible mark on the area’s followers regardless to denomination.
However many will agree to the incredible service, ministerial and otherwise, of one man whose mark will surely reverberate for years to come.
That man is Rev. William L. Lee, who at 65 years-old will retire as pastor of Loudon Ave. Christian Church (LACC) after nearly 40 years of leadership on so many levels.
Bill Lee (as he prefers to be called) was born in 1951 in his grandfather’s house in Mollusk, Va. where his parents Leon and Thelma lived after marriage.
“My dads oldest sister aunt Marie, as a midwife, brought me into the world,” he says reflecting on his humble beginnings.
The little community is 3 mi. outside of Nuttsville, another small community both in the Rappahannock River region where they moved when he was age 4.
The family of 5 (younger sister Sandra and older brother Leon, Jr.) remained in Nuttsville throughout the children’s formative years.
Lee has a bold and authoritative voice perfect for telling the stories that shape his classic life.
He attended segregated schools from 1st through the 11th grade when mandatory desegregation took effect in 1969 in Lancaster County, VA. Consequently the school he attended, Brook Vale High was closed and he graduated from newly integrated Langston High School in 1970.
“It was a very traumatic year,” Lee said referring to the transition from 11 years under the guidance of all Black teachers to the uncertain world of white teachers being forced to teach Blacks.
We got word in May that Brook Vale where he was president of the student body, was closing–two weeks later in June school was out. Everyone showed up the following September to this predominantly White school totally unprepared.”
It was a period he will never forget yet it was one of many experiences that would prepare him for an eventful life ahead.
Regardless of the heights one reaches in life, there are certain individuals who serve as significant inspirators even to those considered great “movers and shakers” in their own right.
One such person Lee sites as critical to his personal development was Dr. Harold Braxton who was chaplain at Virginia State University. Lee served as Dr. Braxton’s student assistant for the four years he attended the institution graduating with honors in 1974.
He would go on to earn his Masters of Divinity from Duke University in 1978 and his Doctorate of Ministry from Ashland Theological Seminary in 2009.
“Dr. Braxton’s insight and guidance has gotten me to where I am as a person,” said Lee. “It was the first time I started seeing something other than a denomination.”
Lee told a remarkable and little known Black history story about Howard Thurman, one of the 20th Century’s most influential African American theologians and civil rights activists who was also a key mentor to Martin Luther King, Jr. and countless others both Black and White.
Thurman was the nephew of Rev. Arthur L. James, pastor, First Baptist Church, Gainsboro (FBCG) (1919–1958). It was at FBCG that Thurman was ordained as a Baptist minister in 1925.
“Most folks don’t know that Thurman did an internship at the church and was the chaplain at Burrell Memorial Hospital during that same time,” Lee said.
Lee had a scheduled appointment to spend the day with the civil rights giant who unfortunately fell ill and was at Duke Hospital in Raleigh, NC. Thurman left Duke and flew back to San Francisco where shortly thereafter he passed in April 1981.
“People like Thurman and Martin Luther King, Jr. have tremendously shaped my life – not that I met them but studying their works has impacted me tremendously,” Lee added.
In addition to his parents, Lee mentioned Dana his wife of 39 years who has been an incredible source of encouragement since they met as young students at VSU.
He also said his grandfather Earnest Webster had the greatest impact on him than anyone ever. Webster always believed and often said that Lee “Billy Boy” as he was affectionately called by some back home, would be someone great one day. It was just that kind of support that fueled Lee throughout his incredible career.
Prior to entering the ministry, Lee taught in Roanoke City schools and amazingly worked part-time as a janitor at night cleaning offices at Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority.
Later in 1982, his mother-in-law encouraged him to apply for a position as chaplain at the VA Medical Center (VAMC).
As a chaplain Lee dealt with vets from several of the major wars and conflicts stretching back to WWI with the exception of Dessert Storm and the Afghanistan conflict.
Although his decision to work at the VA was against his best interest, he hung in there and later became deeply connected through the relationships he built with the Vets and especially enjoyed the fellowship generated through a weekly Bible study group he established.
As fate would have it, in 1996 VAMC upper management and the union picked him and 3 others to be trained as federal mediators.
Lee’s new position had him mainly dealing with workplace disputes involving VA staff.
“I was still not totally feeling the whole VA thing but my superiors said that I was a natural,” he recalls.
Nonetheless, for 20 years Lee, as a federal mediator was assigned to cover 7 hospitals throughout Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina and as far as Dallas, TX.
His last 2 years were spent as EEO manager of the entire VAMC facility in Salem, VA.
It was a segment of his career he now looks back on with great satisfaction and pride.
“I didn’t go to the VAMC for the pay, I went to keep my clinical skills sharp,” Lee said. “I fell in love with the veterans, they are a whole different culture.”
During one of his many prolific speeches Lee, as keynote speaker, was fired up after watching a rousing MLK video. Flexing his civil rights activism side, with fire in his eyes, he referred to himself as a “dangerous negro.” It was a direct response to his intent to amp up the much needed modern-day fight for justice and civil rights.
Among his countless accomplishments he will be greatly remembered for, is his role in the establishment of New Horizons Health Care.
He and an incredible team of visionaries transformed a vision, born in the LACC basement, to what is presently a $multi-million facility with a mission to provide affordable community health care for those in need.
To simply call Rev. Lee a preacher, barely scratches the surface of the layers of concentrated brilliance and concern this man of the cloth is rooted in.
His sermons (sometimes fiery) are intensely thought-provoking and effectively incorporate all the critical elements that stimulate human growth and potential. At various points he clearly exposes his uncanny obsession with lifting the people to great heights through the gospel.
“None of us will truly know the impact of the work we’ve done in this life regardless to the stacks of trophies, plaques and accolades,” he said.
“A man told me the other day that what I had done for him and his family was indescribable and he hugged me. That is what drives me,” he said with a heartfelt seriousness.
Throughout his career Rev. Lee has touched more lives than even he can imagine. He’s a man whose impact and distinguishing career will more than likely continue to flourish vibrantly long after his so called “retirement.”
