A Celebration of Life Reverend Deborah Denise Lee omo Ochun Omi AdadaMi SUNRISE - January 11, 1971 SUNSET - December 23, 2015 Wednesday, December 30, 2015 Viewing & Family Visitation: 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. Celebration of Life Service 11:00 a.m. St. John CME Church 2801 Stanton Road, S.E. Washington, DC 20020 Reverend John A Dillard III, Pastor
Obituary Reverend Deborah Denise Lee Omo Ochun Omi AdadaMi Reverend Deborah Denise Lee, Omo Ochun Omi AdadaMi transitioned from this life on December 23, 2015 at Inova Alexandria Hospital in Alexandria, Virginia. Deborah was born in Washington, DC on January 11, 1971 to Gregory and Phyllis Lee. She was the younger of two children. Deborah was educated in the private school systems of Washington, DC and Prince George s County Maryland from 1976 until she graduated from Elizabeth Seton High School in 1988. In 1992, she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management with a concentration in Marketing from North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University in Greensboro, NC. Because learning was effortless for her, it was no surprise that she graduated with Magna Cum Laude honors. While attending NC A&T SU, she joined the sisterhood of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, Alpha Phi Chapter in 1990. After graduating college, Deborah worked with BP Oil Company as a retail assistant from 1992 until 1994. She was employed from 1994 1996, with Polinger, Shannon and Luchs/Howard University as the Housing Coordinator/Business Manager. In 1996, after leaving Howard University, she was welcomed at Fannie Mae as a business technologist. During her employment at Fannie Mae, she held several positions ranging from systems developer, manager, and business technologist within the International Institutions Group until she resigned in 2007. Always being prepared with a Plan B, Dee began working with the Tramar Group in 2006. As the Vice President of Business Development, Deborah often traveled with the CEO offering consultant services to help build the Tramar brand. Conscious of her spirituality even at an early age, Deborah accepted Christ into her life as a small child while attending Saint John Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. She was active in the Christian Youth Fellowship, the James Carter Usher Board, and the Young Adult Council.
To further her spiritual development she was led to the Inner Visions Institute for Spiritual Development where she studied under Reverend Dr. Iyanla Vanzant. On June 4, 2006, Deborah was ordained a Minister of Spiritual Consciousness. Serving as the Director of Ministry, she also taught pastoral care and counseling, world religions, and spiritual integration courses. She also served as a life coaching consultant for the reality TV show Iyanla, Fix My Life, which airs on the Oprah Winfrey network. Yearning for a deeper relationship with God and knowledge of ancestry, she was initiated as a Priest of Ochun in the Yoruba Lukumi tradition by Iyanla Vanzant omo Obatala Eun Ye and Rosa Grillo omo Yemoja IyadeMi on May 11, 2012. Deborah earned her Master s Degree in Pastoral Counseling from Marymount University in 2014. She entered the Counseling Doctoral Program at Marymount University in the Fall of 2015. She was building a private spiritual counseling/life coaching practice in Clinton, MD. Believing all things work together for good, Deborah used a full range of techniques and traditions to facilitate awareness, insight, growth, and expansion for her clients. In 2015, Deborah was one of 47 authors to contribute an excerpt entitled My First and Best Mentor in the publication written by Barbara A. Perkins, The Magic of Mentoring Pearls of Wisdom. Deborah is survived by her parents, Gregory & Phyllis Lee; a devoted sister, Valerie Lee; a loving grandmother Ira Lee Holmes; and 27 members of her spiritual family in the Yoruba tradition. She also leaves behind aunts, uncles, extended family and friends throughout the United States and abroad. Deborah s work was her ministry, her ministry was her calling and her calling was her life.
Order of Service Reverend John A. Dillard III Officiating Organ Prelude Processional Hymn Prayer of Comfort Solo Mr. Calvin Fields Clergy My Hope is Built Reverend Michael Green Mr. Robert Person Scripture Readings: OLD TESTAMENT Joshua 1: 8-9 NEW TESTAMENT John 14: 1-6 Reverend Tammy Manly Reverend Shirley Thomas Solo Church Paper/Acknowledgements Mr. Robert Person Sister Ruby Person Expressions (2 minutes) Reflections Solo Eulogy Recessional Ms. Anika Wilson Reverend Dr. IyanlaVanzant Clergy and Family Interment National Harmony Memorial Park 7107 Sheriff Road Landover, MD
Memories God looked around His garden And found an empty place. He then looked down upon the earth And saw your beautiful face. He put his arms around you And lifted you to rest. God s garden must be beautiful He always takes the best. He saw your road was getting rough And the hills were hard to climb, So He closed your weary eyelids And whispered "Peace be thine". It breaks our hearts to lose you But you did not go alone, For part of us went with you The day God called you home.
After Glow I'd like the memory of me, To be a happy one, I'd like to leave an afterglow Of smiles, when life is done. I'd like to leave an echo Whispering softly down the ways, Of happy times and laughing times & bright and sunny days. I'd like the tears of those who grieve, To dry before the sun Of happy memories that I leave behind When life is done.
Pallbearers Alpheus Chadwick Daemon Vanzant Shawn Lee Ron Powers David Jackson Dwayne Cross Acknowledgements Our family wishes to acknowledge with deep appreciation the many expressions of love, concern and kindness shown to us during this hour of bereavement. May God Bless and Keep You! Gregory, Phyllis and Valerie Lee Repast Immediately following the Interment at St. John CME Church in the Julius Washington Fellowship Hall Dee, Our family is forever changed. You always did so much for all of us and others. Time spent baking cookies for the holidays, scrapbooking, making jewelry, shopping, and just being around you is irreplaceable. I felt your love through our heart to heart talks and your spiritual guidance. I will learn how to make this work without you. It won t be easy, but I ll push through it as you would. Always in my heart, Val Dee, Gone are the days when you responded to every question with My mama said You always had the plans for us, so we can t imagine our world without you. Rest well, Dee Dee Bumps, we will always love you and miss you. Mommy & Da Arrangements Entrusted to: Stewart Funeral Home 4001 Benning Rd NE Washington, DC 20019