BRUNSWICK — Ronald Edward Lee, Sr., 78 of Brunswick, passed away Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at Ascension St. Vincent’s in Jacksonville, Fla.
Lee was born November 29, 1947 in Waycross to Jerome Carlos Lee, Sr. and Daisy Lee Dowling Lee. He had lived in Brunswick most of his life and was a 1966 graduate of Glynn Academy. Lee received an Associate Degree from Brunswick Junior College.
He was a member of Glyndale Baptist Church where he had also formerly served as a Deacon. Prior to its closing, Lee had worked as a welder at B & W before beginning his career in law enforcement as an officer at the City of Brunswick Police Department.
That was followed by Metro Drug Squad. Lee was the first officer with the department to receive a drug canine, Bando. He was then appointed to the Governor’s Task Force.
Lee eventually went to work as an SRO with the school system and had a dual role as school transportation director. He was then promoted to Police Chief with the Glynn County School System.
When not working, Lee enjoyed fishing, wood working and cooking.
In addition to his parents, Lee was preceded in death by brothers, Jerome Lee, Jr., and Donald Lee sister in laws Martha Higginbotham and Delores Higginbotham.
Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Shirley Higginbotham Lee; children, Denise Miller (James) of Brunswick, Amy Hatcher (Marty) of Hortense, and Ron E. Lee, Jr., of Brunswick; siblings, Cindy Lee and Darrell Lee (Kathryn), all of Brunswick; brother-inlaw, Linton Higginbotham of Brunswick and Bill Higginbotham of Amelia Island, Fla.; grandchildren, Alexis Potts (Nathan), Kelsey Lee, Stanley Lee, Andrew Gordon, Ben Lee and Ron E ‘Tripp’ Lee III; great grandchildren, Sophia and Brady Potts; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He also leaves behind his loyal canines, Whiskey, Rock, Trudy and Pearl, and his coffee drinking cat, Roscoe.
A service to celebrate Lee’s life was held Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at 11 a.m., at Chapman Funeral Chapel.
Chapman Funeral Chapel and Crematory was in charge of arrangements.
