A CELEBRATION OF LIFE JACQUELINE “JACKYE” WAITERS-LEE
Jacqueline “Jackye” Waiters-Lee was born September 8, 1945 in Greenville, Texas, to S. W. “Jack” Waiters, Sr. and Jessie Dean Waiters. She moved with her family to Dallas at an early age and attended Hamilton Park School (Class of 1963). Her educational background included a BS Degree in Music All-Levels from Huston-Tillotson University, a Master of Science Degree in Elementary Education, a Minor in English from Lamar University, an English as a Second Language Certification from Texas A&M University – Commerce, TX, and a Master of Religious Education from Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University. At Huston-Tillotson, Jackye was initiated into the Beta Kappa Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. She was a life member and became a 50 year member this spring during Alpha Xi Omega Chapter’s Founders’ Day Observance.
Her active membership in the United Methodist Church began as a youth at Hamilton Park Methodist Church. She described her spiritual and social development to be triangular, inclusive of home, school, and church: Local Church, Conference, and Global. Jackye’s passion for the United Methodist Women was displayed through more than 20 years of support and involvement. She served as a Study Leader repeatedly in North Texas Conference Schools of Mission, and in the Alabama, Arkansas, and Missouri, Conferences United Methodist Women Schools.
Jackye also provided leadership as National Secretary and National President of Black Methodists for Church Renewal, Inc. Additionally, she served as Secretary of the Coordinating Committee for Strengthening the Black Church for the 21st Century. Jackye was a retired teacher of the Texas Public Schools. As a second career, Jackye was commissioned as a Deacon in North Texas Conference. Her pastoral leadership certified her to serve as a Local Pastor in the North Texas Conference. Her pastoral appointments included Director of Christian Education at First United Methodist Church of Terrell, TX, Directo of Christian Education at Munger Place United Methodist Church, Dallas, TX, Senior Pastor of Crest-Moore King and Lambuth Churches (these congregations merged under her pastoral leadership and are currently Community United Methodist Church, Dallas, TX). Prior to her passing, she was serving as the Senior Pastor of St. Marks United Methodist Church, Mesquite, TX.
Her other civic affiliations included Life Member of NAACP, Graduate of Leadership Richardson-Class XVI, Charter member of TX Coalition of Black Democrats, and former Board Member of The Black Academy of Arts and Letters, Inc.
She was preceded in death by her parents, S.W. “Jack” Waiters, Sr. and Jessie Dean Waiters; and a beloved brother, S. W. Waiters, Jr. She is survived by her loving husband of twenty-five years, Charles “Chuck” Lee; brothers, Roger C. Waiters (Cathy) and Michael K. Waiters; sister, Gwenevere Denise Mitchell; step-daughter, Dorian Sanders (Phillip), and granddaughter, Olivia; much loved niece, Jessica Ivanah Mitchell, niece, Latisha R. Jones; loving aunt, Ida Mae Bailey, and dear cousins, Yolanda Bailey, Harrison “Bubba” Bailey, Brandon Bailey; and a host of other relatives and friends.
