Police Officer William Marion Lee

Daddy, It's been 75 years since you left without a chance to say good-by. Your baby girl thinks of you often and I have kept your framed picture in full view in my home for many years. In 2012, I went on a search for the family of the black man who was set up and falsely accused of killing you. This man was sentenced to life in prison. I found some of his family members, including one of his sisters, who (at the time we met her was 101 years of age) was the last surviving sibling. She had a clear mind, was still driving and living in her own place. All of your 4 children became acquainted with them and have become like family. They call us sisters and brother and we call them the same. We've been included in their family reunions and other activities at their church. They had not been able to put a head-stone on their brother's grave, so we purchased one for them. They were so pleased. They were also very grateful to know that we never believed that their brother was guilty of killing you. With deep, deep sobs, that came from deep inside, they said they had lived all their life to know that. The man who really killed you did not stay in Brunswick very long after he murdered you. I hope he made peace with his maker while he still had time. In genealogical records, I was able to trace this man for most of the rest of his life. He left law enforcement after killing you and never went back to it. Daddy, Mama struggled to keep us together and provide for us the best she could. We never went hungry, we never went cold, and we always had a roof over our heads. God put a lot of people in our lives, who helped provide things for us, also. I love you, Dad.

Daughter
Officer Lee's baby daughter.

July 31, 2018