Lucius Lee Merritt

Lucius Lee Merritt, 77, of Albany, GA died April 21, 2015 at his residence. Funeral services will be held Thursday, April 23, 2015 at 11:00 AM at First Free Will Baptist Church. Rev. Billy D. Hanna will officiate. Interment will follow at Floral Memory Gardens.

Lee Merritt was born September 10, 1937 in Leary, Georgia to the late Lucius Key Merritt and the late Julia Hardy Merritt. He graduated from Leesburg High School in 1955. Lee married Juanita Pyle on April 14, 1963 and had recently celebrated their 52nd anniversary. Lee worked as a food broker for almost fifty years and retired in 2011. He was an active member of First Free Will Baptist Church where he taught the K & K Sunday School Class for thirty-five years. He also taught the 7th-9th grade boys for ten years. Lee's hobbies included golf, spending time at the lake with his family and socializing with his church friends. In addition to his parents Lee was preceded in death by a sister, Marie Merritt, and son in laws, Steve Scott and Mike Tabb, Jr.

Survivors include his wife, Juanita Pyle Merritt, three daughters, Leanne Merritt Speight (Mike), Maria Merritt Smith and Julie Merritt Tabb, nine grandchildren, Greg Speight, Kevin Speight, Andy Speight, Merritt Speight, Ethan Smith, Marlee Smith, Anthony Tabb, Emilyn Scott, and Camden Scott and a great-grandchild Lily Conlan (Speight).

The family will receive friends Wednesday from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Mathews Funeral Home.

Those desiring may make memorials to the First Free Will Baptist Church, c/o the Church Youth Fund Summer of Service, 420 N. Westover Blvd., Albany, GA 31707 or Albany Community Hospice, 320 Foundation Lane, Albany, GA 31707.