William Lee

William David Lee Sr, 86, (aka Papa) transitioned to Heaven to be with our Lord on July

15, 2024. He was born in Jackson, Alabama on July 2, 1938, to William Thomas Lee

and Mary Elizabeth Lee. In 1959, he completed a Bible degree from Southeastern Bible

College then in 1961 he completed a BA from Florida Southern College both located in

Lakeland, Florida. In 1976 he completed a Masters Degree from The Assemblies of

God Theological Seminary. In 1959, he married Jimmie Ruth Moseley also from

Jackson, Alabama. Together the young couple set out on their journey to share the

message of Jesus with people around the world. Their ministry began in 1962 when he

became pastor of Bethel Assembly of God in Winter Haven, Florida. In 1968 Bethel

merged with another church to form Calvary Assembly of God. In 1970 he was elected

and served as youth director (D-CAP) for the Peninsular Florida Assemblies of God. He

served as D-CAP until 1976. While serving as D-CAP, he led numerous mission trips to

the Caribbean, to South America, and to Europe. Then, in 1976 he received a call from

our Lord to become a full-time missionary and moved his family to San Jose, Costa

Rica to attend language school. Then, in 1977, the family moved to Medellin, Colombia

to share Jesus in this nation. In 1980, the Assemblies of God Division of Foreign

Missions asked him to work with Spanish Television and Radio (STAR) ministries where

they created television and radio programs in Spanish that were distributed throughout

the Spanish speaking world. In 1982 the Assemblies of God asked him to create and

lead International Media Ministries (IMM) which he created and established in

Lakeland, Florida. Then, in 1985 he relocated IMM to Brussels, Belgium where he

remained Executive Director until 1999. In early 1999, the Assemblies of God

headquarters asked him to move to Springfield and head their communication

department. Then in 2001 the Assemblies of God Division of Foreign Missions elected

him to serve as a member of the executive committee. He served on the executive

committee until the fall of 2012 when he retired and moved, with his wife Jimmie Ruth,

to Lakeland, Florida.

David was passionate about serving our Lord. In his lifetime he traveled to five

continents and to more than 100 countries where he served leaders in these nations by

creating audio, video, radio, and print materials in their languages that multiplied their

efforts to share the Christian message. Millions of people around the world have heard

the gospel through these programs. Many of these programs are still being broadcast

today.

David was a servant leader who led by example. He genuinely loved people and was a

kind, caring, gentle man. He could land at nearly any airport in the world and a

delegation of people, that he had loved and served, would be there greet him. After his

love and passion for serving Jesus, the second most important people he loved and

served was his family. He loved his family deeply. And his family loves him deeply. We

miss him so much. He leaves a big hole in our hearts, however, we are filled with

countless wonderful memories of him loving us and us loving him.

David Lee is survived by his wife of 64 years, Jimmie Ruth Lee, and his three children:

William David Lee, Jr, PhD (1960); Cynthia Ann Lee/Murphy (1962), Major U.S. Army,

Nurse Practitioner (Married to Bob Murphy); and Steven James Lee (1970), BA (married

to Michelle Matheny). He is also survived by grandsons: Luke Wilkinson; Chase Lee

(Cassie); Hunter Lee (Kelsey); Colby Lee and granddaughter Aimee Hetzel. Great

Grandsons: Jasper Wilkinson; Wilder Wilkinson; Owen Hetzel; Kayson Lee; Waylon

Lee; Andrew Lee and great granddaughter, Lily Hetzel.

He is predeceased by his father, Thomas Lee, his mother, Mary Lee, his sisters,

Marjorine Slocumb and Aileen Johnson, and his brothers Frank Lee, DP Lee, and Cecil

Lee.

His Celebration of Life Service will be held July 19, 2024, at Victory Church, 1401 Griffin

Road, Lakeland, Florida. The public viewing will begin at 10am followed by the

celebration service at 11a.m.

A second Celebration of Life will be held Tuesday, July 23, 2024, at Jackson Assembly of God in

Jackson, Alabama at 11 a.m. with a viewing one hour prior to services.

His greatest desire was that all of his family, friends, and the countless of people he

ministered too, would spend eternity with him in Heaven. Let us all honor his desire.

We Love you Papa.

In Lieu of flowers, David Lee and his family would ask you to please make donations to

International Media Ministries Account # 516813, c/o Asssemblies of God World

Missions, 1445 Boonville Ave, Springfield, MO 65802. To give online, copy this link into

your browser: https://giving.ag.org/donate/600001-516813