Willie Lee Lake Wright-Thompson was born on April 25, 1933 to the late Leola Fikes-Lake and Andrew Lake. She was united to the late Eugene Wright who preceded her in death. Willie Lee later married the late Clarence Oscar Thompson on August 11, 1978, and to this union they had two children, twenty-one children in all.
Willie Lee dedicated her life to Christ at an early age and became a member of Southern Heights Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor Otha Aden. She late joined Jerusalem Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Dr. Samuel L. Walker and continued her membership under the leadership of Pastor Maurice Culver.
Willie Lee moved from Birmingham, Alabama to Fort Wayne, Indiana in the early 1950’s to care for her sick cousin, Cade. She also traveled back and forth to Birmingham to care for her mother, father, siblings and anyone who needed her. She always made sure that her family was taken care of, and even though she did not drive, she made a way to get where she was needed.
Willie Lee enjoyed having fun with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, family and friends. She enjoyed family gatherings and allowed her children to take over the cooking when her health begin to fail and continued to help because she told her children they were not cooking it right. She also enjoyed her conversations with her siblings, overnight night stays and late night talks with her sister Queen Lake-Dunbar who preceded her in death.
Willie also enjoyed her annual mother and daughter trips with her girls to Cincinnati, Ohio and they called themselves “Sisters In Harmony”. She had daughters who had preceded her in death but her and her girls made sure they were included in the trips, Willie Lee would not have it any other way.
Although Willie bade farewell to this life on Monday, May 17, 2021, her cherished memories will live on through her Loving Children: nine daughters,Loretta (Thomas) Masterson, Diane (Elige) Young, Joyce Wright, Leola (Ledell David) Hicks, Theresa (James) Bates and Angelyn (Jerry Sr.) McCurrie all of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Tinishia Wright (Jake Waddy) of Birmingham, Alabama, Dorothy Washington and Zola Warren both of Pontiac Michigan; five sons, Winston Wright, DeWayne (Janice) Wright, Gregory (Sandra) Wright, Nathan (Michelle) Lake all of Fort Wayne, Indiana and Clifford (Deon) Thompson of Cincinnati, Ohio. 79 Grandchildren, 170 Great Grandchildren and 123 Great-Great Grandchildren. Three brothers: Charles (Betty) Lake, Mordica (Shirley) Lake, Andrew (Mary) Lake and One sister, Angelyn Lake all of Birmingham, Alabama. One Special Sister, Augusta Underwood of Fort Wayne, Indiana. God-Daughter, Rosalyn Wynn of Chattanooga, Tennessee and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Willie Lee was preceded in death by her parents, Leola Fikes-Lake and Andrew Lake. Her husband, Clarence Oscar Thompson and Special united companion, Eugene Wright. Daughters: Barbara Wright, Jeanette Jones, Kimberly Wright, Patricia Pinkston, Yvonne Wright, Dorothy Staten and Estella Thompson. Son, Clarence Thompson, Jr. Grandchildren: Michelle Wright, Yolanda Wright, Shantel Young, Clifton Cottrell, Ramon Jefferson, Shelton Jefferson and Ernest Griffin. Great-Grandchildren: Donnell Quavonne Wright and Clayton Winn. Brothers: Rev. Lawyer Lake and Joe Lake. Sisters: Rachel Green, Queen Lake-Dunbar, Fannie Walker and Margaret Billups. Three special friends: Annie “Sweetie” Wynn, Willie “Jack” Kelly and Debbie Kelly.
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