Robert Wayne Lee

Obituary For Robert Wayne Lee

Robert Wayne Lee, 68, of Atlanta, GA passed away, following a brief illness, on October 19, 2023 surrounded by a group of dear friends and,with the help of modern technology, members of his family in Charleston SC.

Born on November 1, 1954 in Charleston, SC he was the son of the late Robert E and Catherine Lester Lee. Wayne is survived by his brother Eddie (Kathy Sweeney) Lee of James Island, SC; John Lee of James Island, SC and Cynthia (Orin McClellan) Nicholson; and niece Savannah McClellan, all of Hanahan, SC.

Where to begin the story of Wayne's life? As an adventurous 14 year old growing up in Charleston the lure of the Tomato Shed pond was a temptation too cooling to resist on a steamy Summer day. His dive from the embankment that day in 1969 resulted in incomplete quadriplegia at C/4/5/6 levels. Following two years of rehabilitation, including an extended stay at Warm Springs, GA, Wayne returned to James Island High School.

Those were the days long before the Americans With Disabilities Act and Wayne's mobility was at the mercy of friends, of which he had plenty. They helped him access classes by taking him out of his chair, swinging him over their shoulder and climbing the stairs for him. Wayne once said, "Somewhere along the line, I saw how fortunate I was to be able to move about in the world and to have a brain."

Wayne went on to enroll in the College of Charleston. He volunteered his time as a peer counselor to others with spinal cord injuries. He graduated with his class and then pursued a law degree at Emory University in Atlanta. It surprised no one that Wayne, despite his handicap and the challenges it presented, graduated with his class, a first for a quadriplegic at that institution.

Upon graduation Wayne accepted a job as a junior counsel with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Washington, D.C. Later he transferred back to Atlanta to serve as an enforcement attorney with the regional office of the EPA, where he spent the next thirty plus years.

Wayne relished his independence. He lived in his own home, he was able to drive, to cook, to paint … just about anything by himself or with the help of his service dog, Justin. He had many interests and talents. He was passionate about jazz and had quite the record collection. He collected beers from around the world, he played wheelchair rugby with the Shepherd Center in Atlanta and, last but not least, he loved to engage in spirited debate.

Contributions in Wayne's name should be made to the Shepherd Center Foundation, 2020 Peachtree Road NW, Atlanta, GA 30309-1465. or through the following link:

https://foundation.shepherd.org/how-to-give/donate/

Details for a Charleston area Celebration of Life are pending.

The staff of Central Cremation Services is honored to be selected to provide end-of-life services.

(If you order flowers, you must obtain a delivery address from a family member. Please do not send flowers to the crematory)

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