Constance Lee

Constance Sloan Lee, of Chattanooga, Tenn., died on Oct. 12, 2017. Connie was an accomplished teacher whose achievements were recognized repeatedly, eventually leading to an invitation to the White House. She was an innovative leader who was instrumental in founding the Chattanooga Center for the Creative Arts and served as the guidance director there. At the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, Connie was a devoted member whose service ranged from Philoptochos to promoting the Greek Festival. But more than any of these individual accomplishments, Connie was a pillar of every community that she joined or formed. She was tireless in her dedication to the many people she cared for and never shied from taking on a task no matter how small or thankless. Her students were always confident that Mrs. Lee was their best friend and mentor. Her wide circle of friends from church and many corners of Chattanooga counted her both loving and loyal. Connie was born on May 15, 1950, in Chattanooga and only left to complete her undergraduate and master’s degrees from Rhodes College. Her career as an educator spanned 27 years including a stint as an English teacher at City High School. During this time, Connie was recognized with the Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching in addition to being named Outstanding Teacher once and receiving the Laura Handley Brock Award for Excellence in Teaching twice. Remarkable in a different way were her 41 years of service as the organist at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church. Her tenure distinguished her as one of the longest serving church musicians in the city. Connie’s 27-year marriage to husband Ron, her childhood friend, followed the pattern of all of her other commitments. She was fiercely devoted to him and found joy both in his companionship and their many shared interests. These interests included the teaching careers that both brought them together and became their common vocation. In all of Connie’s friendships and families – whether defined by kinship, school or church – she was a source of encouragement and inspiration and no one ever doubted that her most important commitments were to those she loved. Connie was preceded in death by her parents, Frossie and Chester Sloan. She is survived by her husband, Ron Lee; brother, George Sloan and sister-in-law, Edie; and her beloved uncle and aunt, Nicolas and Angela Kalanzis. A celebration of life service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 16, 2017, at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church with Father Stavros Ballas officiating. Interment will follow the service at Chattanooga Memorial Park with Dan Atchely, Mark Anthony Atchley, Woody Atchley, Mickey Gates, Bill Greene and Al Sutterfield serving as pallbearers. Family will receive friends from 4 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 722 Glenwood Dr., Chattanooga, Tennessee 37404. Please share your memories of Constance with the family at www.chattanoogaeastchapel.com Arrangements are by Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, East Chapel, 404 S. Moore Rd., Chattanooga, Tennessee 37412.