Leossie Ross Jr. was born on June 4, 1937, in Hurstboro, Ala. to the union of Leossie and Lucille Ross. He was the youngest of three children and the only son. The family relocated to Chicago when Lee was five years old. All of Lee’s immediate famil
Leossie Ross Jr. was born on June 4, 1937, in Hurstboro, Ala. to the union of Leossie and Lucille Ross. He was the youngest of three children and the only son. The family relocated to Chicago when Lee was five years old. All of Lee’s immediate family members preceded him in death. Ross attended Drake Elementary School and Dunbar High School. He went on to attend Kennedy-King College where he majored in business, the foundation for the entrepreneurial spirit that led him through life. Ross later joined the Air Force where he served as a “Military Policeman” for four years. Upon his return to civilian life, Ross worked for IBM as a computer engineer and later became one of the first African Americans in Chicago to buy two Standard Oil gas stations. Ross also worked as a certified mechanic at a prominent Lincoln Mercury car dealership. He carried this entrepreneurial spirit further when he became a leader in the booming real estate market and received his real estate and broker’s license. Within two years after receiving his license, Ross opened Supreme Home Realty, which has been the family business for over 22 years. He later taught potential real estate salespeople at ERA Real Estate School. The joy in his life became “full and complete” when he laid eyes on the beautiful Mae Hobbs, his family said. They married when he returned from the Air Force and she has been his bride for over 49 years. They were the dynamic duo, walking hand-in-hand raising their two children Candace and Lee Ossie III. They were partners with God in what they considered the “game of life.” Although Candace and Lee III were their only biological children, they raised four other children in their household: Jason, Julian, Sam, and Murlene (Peaches). Ross joined his father-in-law’s church, Wayfaring COGIC in 1968. Ross and his family later joined Life Center C.O.G.I.C. in 1983 under the leadership of Pastor T.L. Barrett Jr. There, Ross served as a trustee, was a member of the Men of Holiness Ministry and was an integral part of the Couple’s Ministry, ministering to young married couples. In 2001, Ross entered Living Word Christian Church School of Ministry and Leadership under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Bill Winston where Ross graduated and became a licensed minister. He became an ordained elder of the Life Center C.O.G.I.C. in 2003. Ross became ill recently and made his transition Friday. He leaves to cherish his memory, his partner in life, wife Mae; daughter, Candace; son, Lee Ossie, III (Kimberly); grandchildren: Jason, Julian, Joshua, Tyler, Jah’vonte, and Simone; and three generations of nieces, nephews and godchildren, as well as other relatives and dear friends. Copyright 2010 Chicago Defender
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