Laura McClung Lee, 87, of Cedartown, GA left this world on December 10, 2011. Laura was born in the Felton Community of Haralson County, Georgia on July 2, 1924. Her parents were Elmer and Willie Davis McClung of Felton. Laura's husband of 70 years, Heslip Happy Lee, died on May 26, 2011. She is survived by four children, Dwain Lee of Cedartown, Glenn Lee of Atlanta, Joan Lee Clark of Calhoun and Laurie Lee of Cedartown; six grandchildren and six great-children; four sisters, Derelle Johnson of Douglasville, Willie Bishop of Buchanan, Lorene Coalson of Rockmart and Ann Johnson of Buchanan. She is also predeceased by a son, DVM Stephen F Lee of Alpharetta, GA; one grandchild, Joseph T Lee; three brothers, Otis McClung, Foster McClung, and Charles McClung; and one sister, Marie Beauford.

In 1952, Laura and Heslip left Polk County with three children, soon to be five, to further their educations and expand their worlds. She was a devoted wife and mother during the years of Heslip's career as a Minister, educator, and public servant in NY, GA, VA, NC, MA, and UT. Her husband often said that she was a better Minister's wife than he was a Minister. He loved to talk about "what it was like to be married to a saint". And he was right. Her deep Christian faith led her to a life of caring for the less fortunate and believing that no one should be judged by the color of their skin, their national origin, their interpretation of GOD or their sexual orientation.

In 1979 she retired from the Dekalb County Library System and returned to Polk County with her husband. She rediscovered her love of gardening and especially caring for her beloved flower garden that she started as therapy after the loss of a son in 1994. For the last 30 years of her life she made a commitment to practice random acts of kindness everyday. They usually included a bouquet of flowers from her garden.

A few years ago she gave the family very specific directions for her funeral which included the following. "In Lieu of flowers, I request a tree or shrub be planted where the same can be enjoyed by people who appreciate living beauty; or anyone wishing to make a contribution in my honor, to make a vow to themselves and to God as of this day, to take the responsibility to find a person who is less fortunate than themselves, and making life a bit easier for that individual". If you feel the need to make a contribution in her name, her preference is the First Baptist Church of Cedartown (www.fbccedartown.org) which she dearly loved and was an active member for the last 32 years.

The funeral service for Mrs. Laura McClung Lee will be conducted on Monday, December 12, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. at The First Baptist Church in Cedartown with Dr. David Taylor officiating. She will lie in state at the church one hour prior to the funeral service. Interment will follow in Antioch Baptist Church Cemetery.

The family will receive friends on Sunday, December 11th, from 2:00 to 4:00 in the afternoon and also from 6:00 till 8:00 in the evening at the Olin L. Gammage and Sons Funeral Home.

Flowers will be accepted or Memorial contributions may be made to The First Baptist Church Building Fund, P. O. Box 720, Cedartown, GA 30125.

Pallbearers are Clay Chapman, Jim Clark, Joshua Lee, Warren Lee, Daryl Roberts, and Joe Dan Walker.

She also asked this to be read at her funeral:
When I come to the end of the day
And the sun has set for me
I want no rites in a gloom-filled room.
Why cry for a soul set free?
Miss me a little, but not too long
And not with your head bowed low.
Remember the love we once shared . . .
Miss me, but let me go.
For this is a journey we all must take
And each must go alone.
It's all a part of the Maker's plan,
A step on the road to home.
When you are lonely and sick at heart
Go to the friends we know
And bury your sorrows in doing good deeds (and Mom underlined the word "good")
Miss me, but let me go.

The Olin L. Gammage and Sons Funeral Home is handling the arrangements for Mrs. Laura McClung Lee.