On Wednesday, May 28, 2014, Jennie Lee Kalie departed this life peacefully for the next life, at Howard County General Hospital.

Jennie Lee was the loving wife, for 55 years, to John E. Kalie, with whom she spent countless hours with family and volunteering for many groups and organizations in the Laurel area, where she has lived since 1959.

She was born in Suffolk, which is also known as the peanut capital of the world, on April 10, 1927, to the late Harry and Jennie Lee Cross. She attended, and graduated from, Longwood University and later obtained a master’s degree from the University of Maryland College Park. Jennie Lee began her career as an elementary school teacher in the single classroom, around the pot belly stove in the Suffolk/Nansemond County School System. Later moving to Maryland to be near her mother, she continued teaching at University Park Elementary (meeting John), eventually moving to Margaret Edmonston (now part of Laurel High School) and later Hollywood Elementary Schools. She was the first reading teacher in the Laurel area, teaching at OW Phair, Laurel, Bond Mill and Montpelier elementary schools.

Jennie Lee was active in many different activities throughout her life, which included: summer camp leader in Hazelton, Pa., Girl Scout leader, Montpelier Mansion docent, Laurel Museum, Laurel Historical Society, West Laurel Civic Association, Laurel Senior Friendship Club, AARP, Laurel Cable TV Production, 50-year member of the Daughters of the American Revolution in the Brig. Gen. Rezin Beall Chapter in Laurel, Laurel Volunteer Rescue Squad, worked on the Tree of Lights project for the Laurel Regional Hospital and the Liberty Grove United Methodist Church Adult Fellowship. She, along with other members of the Atlas Group, was instrumental in getting the Laurel Beltsville Senior Activity Center built.

In addition to her husband, Jennie Lee is survived by her loving son, J. Edmund and daughter-in-law, Nancy Kalie; sister, Alma Duke; and grandchildren, Alex and Christine. She is also survived by many beloved nieces and nephews, grand-nieces and -nephews and great-grandnieces and -grandnephews. She was predeceased by her siblings, Harry Lee Cross, Martha Faucett and Betty Pretlow.

A visitation will be held on Friday, June 6, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Donaldson Funeral Home, P.A., 313 Talbott Ave., Laurel. A Laurel funeral service will be held on Saturday, June 7, 2014, at noon at Liberty Grove United Methodist Church, 15225 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville, MD 20866, with a repast to follow in the fellowship hall.  Additionally, a Suffolk visitation will be held at the Main Street United Methodist Church in Suffolk on Saturday, June 14, beginning at 11 a.m., with a funeral service beginning at noon. Interment is to follow at the Cedar Hill Cemetery, Suffolk. To honor Jennie Lee’s devotion to the community, memorial donations in Jennie’s Lee’s name may be made to one of her cherished charities.