Mary Julia Lee

Mary Julia Lee passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, at the age of ninety, on March 17, 2025, in Dothan, Alabama. Born on October 13, 1934, in Abbeville, Alabama, Mary Julia was a dearly loved wife, mother, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, and friend to many.

Mary Julia was preceded in death by her beloved husband Rufus E. Lee, Jr. and her parents Reuben and Evelyn Martinson of Abbeville. She is survived by her children, Russell Lee (Pat), Stacy Lee Hall (David), Chris Lee (Vera), Mary Julia Beamon Fedel (Alex), and her brother William D. Martinson. She was the proud grandmother of six, Christin Lee Bishop (Heather), Ross Lee (Crystal), Nathan Hall (Summer), Mary Amanda Hall, Jon David Hall, Mary Duncan Lee, Cassadey Fedel McKeague (Sean) and seven great-grandchildren. Her nieces, nephews, and other family members will remember her with great affection.

Mary Julia was a cheerleader during her days at Abbeville High School where she graduated in 1952. She was selected as Miss Abbeville twice, once in 1949 and again in 1950. She attended the University of Alabama where she was a member of Delta Gamma Social Fraternity.

Mary Julia and Rufus were married at First Baptist Church in Abbeville on June 8, 1954. Soon thereafter they began a journey that would take them to medical school in Birmingham, residency in Minneapolis and a stint in the Airforce which took them through Denver, Co and Clovis NM. After which they moved to Los Alamos, NM where Rufus joined a busy Pediatrics practice.

During her days in New Mexico not only was Mary Julia a devoted wife and mother, she was President of the Los Alamos County Medical Auxiliary and President of the Santa Fe Opera Guild. She was deeply involved in service to the surrounding community and headed a project to bring clean water to a local Native American Pueblo. She was an avid private pilot who was aerobatic qualified, loved working and riding horses, skied every weekend of the season, and took her kids on too many adventures to recount.

Mary Julia and Rufus moved to Dothan in 1972. She became very actively involved in the community in addition to being practice manager when Rufus opened the first Allergy Clinic in Dothan. She has been a board member, founder, and/or president of over a dozen major organizations including, but not limited to: the American College of Allergy & Immunology Auxiliary, Dothan Chamber of Commerce, Zonta Club, the Houston County and Alabama Medical Auxiliaries. She was a member of the original Board of Directors of Wiregrass Hospice, Wiregrass Foundation, and Family Health Clinic. In 1985, Mary Julia and a team of ladies established Chrysalis, a home for abused or neglected girls in Dothan, where she continued to serve as a board member for many years. She was a very involved member of First Baptist Church in Dothan where she enjoyed teaching Sunday school and a variety of activities. She loved the Lord with all her heart and will be greatly missed.

Visitation for Mary Julia will be held at First Baptist Church at 12:00 on Thursday March 20, 2025 with a funeral to follow at 1:00. Dr. Taylor Rutland presiding.

In lieu of flowers the family kindly requests your donations be made to the following: Chrysalis Dothan or First Baptist Church of Dothan

The family wishes to extend our most sincere gratitude to the following: Dr. Chris Miller; Dr. Frank Crockett, Dr. Edwin Morriss, and Dr. John Burgess. Melissa Watson and the incredible angels of Joykeepers; Karen Kelly and the entire team with Gentiva Hospice, and especially The Terrace at Grove Park memory unit.