Funeral services for Barbara Lee, 76, will be held Tuesday, November 28, 2023 at First Baptist Church of Blue Springs, 4500 Little Blue Parkway, Independence, MO. Her family will receive family and friends from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Funeral service will begin at 4:00 p.m. A private family graveside service will take place at a later time. Arrangements have been entrusted to Meyers Funeral Chapel in Blue Springs. Memories of Barbara and words of comfort for her family may be shared at meyersfuneralchapel.com
Barbara Marie Kilgore Lee was raised in Arcadia, Louisiana as the only child of Thomas and Marie Kilgore. She was a gifted child, excelling in academics and music. She graduated high school when she was 16 years old and attended Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana as a piano music major.
She graduated from Southern with honors and received a scholarship to study piano performance at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. After completing the challenging master’s program, she was offered her first teaching job as a piano instructor at the former Arkansas A & M University in Pine Bluff (now known as the University of Arkansas, Pine Bluff). Not knowing anyone in Arkansas, she took the leap of faith and started her career.
During her first semester, she met a junior football player who was a music major. He had heard of the new piano instructor, and as a vocalist, he had always wanted someone to play the piano for him. They met in the fall of 1969 and were married by February 1970. Thus began a life of music together–Barbara played the piano and her husband W.N. “Bud” Lee sang.
Barbara and Bud dedicated their lives to music ministry, traveling to churches throughout the country for over 30 years. Their three children also traveled with them as Barbara homeschooled all three children on the road, long before homeschooling was a widely acceptable form of education.
Barbara was often very sick as a child. The doctors did not understand allergies or food sensitivities, and she would stay sick for weeks at time. That prompted her love for reading, as she would entertain herself with books while home from school. As an adult, Barbara became determined to learn more about health and living a healthy life. During their time at churches with their music ministry, Barbara would also teach “Healthy Living” seminars to church members who were interested in learning what the Bible said about healthy living.
Barbara is survived by her faithful husband Bud of 53 years and three children: Melodye (Ken) Moore, Stephanie (Tony) Steele, and David “DJ” Lee. She also had four grandchildren: Roman Steele, Titus Steele, Anna Steele, and Jude Steele. She is preceded in death by her parents Thomas and Marie Kilgore.
I loved your ministry so much. Your music was incredible. Praying for Bud, his children. And family. May her memory be eternal. 💜✝️🙏
Sending heartfelt condolences and love to all of you. She was a beautiful lady and so loved by all who knew her. Her music and her smile will be missed
Bud, DJ, Steph and Melodye……Your mother/wife was an amazing person. When she played I would get goose bumps and then tears. Thanks, DJ, for the beautiful words you wrote as Barbara made her way “home”. Thank you Stephanie for giving her grandchildren that filled her heart with more love and more joy. Thank you Melodye for living close to provide additional care and support. There will always be a hole in the world that cannot be filled by any other. All my love and thanks for the many years of friendship. Sharron with 2 Rs.
I am so sorry for your loss. I always loved it when your family came to First Baptist Church in Greenwood MO to lead us in worship. May God comfort you and give you peace!
Dear Family of Mrs. Barbara Lee,
God bless the memory of Mrs. Lee. She was a wonderful woman and the Soror of my mother and I as a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She was a trailblazer in music, health and educating her children. I will miss her calls where she was always shared a blessing to benefit others from financial literacy to healthy living. She was a blessing and will be greatly missed!
Dear Family of Mrs. Barbara Lee,
God bless the memory of Mrs. Lee. She was a wonderful woman and the Soror of my mother and I as a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She was a trailblazer in music, health and educating her children. I will miss her calls where she always shared a blessing to benefit others from financial literacy to healthy living. She was a blessing and will be greatly missed!
Praying for you after the passing of Barbara. She was an amazing person and very influential in my life growing up. Thinking of you all during this time. Wishing I could be there in person to celebrate Barbara’s heavenly homecoming. Hugs
Bud and Barbara have ministered to countless people throughout their ministry. It was always a blessing to host them for revivals. Prayers for the entire family.