Willie Lee Borders

A Time To Be Born: Willie Lee was born February 8, 1931 in Macon County, Tuskegee, Alabama to parents, John Taylor Stafford and Mary Fort Stafford. A Time To Share: Willie Lee received her primary and formal education in the Macon County School system in Alabama. In 1948, Willie Lee married Jessie Lee Borders. To this union, two children were born, Dorothy Jean Borders and Jessie Borders, Jr. In those days, times had become hard and wages weren't fair to Jessie and Willie Lee’s new family. In 1952, the family moved from Notasulga, Alabama to Apopka, Florida in search for a better opportunity for their budding family. In order to help feed her family, Willie Lee worked at various plant nurseries. Willie Lee worked two jobs as a housekeeper at Sunland Hospital in Orlando, Florida and Colonial Lakes Health Care in Winter Garden, Florida until her retirement. In retirement, Willie returned back to gardening to help feed her family and her neighborhood. Willie Lee always wanted to give back to her community. She registered with the Foster Grand Parent Program and mentored young children at the John H. Bridges Head Start Center in Apopka, Florida. Willie Lee and Jessie became members of Pleasant View Baptist Church. In her later years, Willie Lee renewed her faith and became a loyal member of Fountain of Life Baptist Church. At Fountain of Life, Willie served on the Mothers Board. On a rainy evening Friday, August 2, 2019, the Lord saw it was time for Willie Lee to be taken up to her heavenly home. A Time To Mourn: Willie Lee was preceded in death by her mother: Mary Stafford; father: John Taylor Stafford; husband: Jessie Lee Borders; brothers: James Edward Stafford, Shirley Stafford, Garfield Stafford; sisters: Carrie Lee Stafford Swanson, Annie Lee Stafford Strozer; grand-son: Gregory Lamar Jones, granddaughter: Cassandra Jean Stewart Rowell; step-daughters: Frances Odell Vickers and Carolyn Marie Borders Johnson. Willie leaves to cherish her loving memories...daughter: Dorothy Borders Stewart of Apopka, Florida; sons: Jessie Borders, Jr. (Burnett) of Mt. Dora, Florida, Eddie James Flakes (Petra) of Apopka, Florida and Jerome Flakes (Linda) of Apopka, Florida; step-sons: Andrew Flakes of Apopka, Florida, Jimmie Jones (Katie) of Apopka, Florida, Calvin Borders of Seattle, Washington and Charles Borders (Theresa) of Notasulga, Alabama; sisters: Ossie Wright of Apopka, Florida, Nettie Thomas (Willie Lee) of Orlando, Florida, Loretta Moss of Tuskegee, Alabama; sister-in-law: Liza Woods of Apopka, Florida; 10 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren, 17 great-great grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Tributes

Willie Lee Borders

February 8, 1931 - August 2, 2019