Listen Gentle People, and Hear my Truest Needs / Gaile (Mother)
I hear you stumbling for words; Relax – THERE ARE NO WORDS!
I hear you remembering a funny story about my loved one and looking embarrassed because you are laughing. SHARE WITH ME, LET ME LAUGH, It gives me something to hold on to in the middle of the night when I feel only pain.
Be your happy self – and let me be me. On days when I can laugh, I will. On days when I can speak of my loved one, I need you to share my memories.
You don’t have to give me answers, for I will learn to live without them.
You don’t have to pretend my loved one never existed, thinking I will forget if you do.
Let me speak his name,
and you speak it, too.
He is always there, that one I love so deeply; always part of who I am.
If you take that from me,
I will be less than who I am.
~Jacqueline L. Rogers I Want to Help but I Don’t Know How
...thinking of Lee... / Mom
...just thinking... / Gaile (Mother)
Dear Lee,
I was just thinking about how, right now, it seems like yesterday that I last saw you. I get that way sometimes. Other times, it seems like FOREVER since I've seen you!
Most people seem to have moved on with their lives but, for me, the loss of getting to see how your music career would have gone; seeing you get married; have children....and all the events I will miss because you have gone on...is too much to bear at times!
I'm not immune to all the other suffering in the world but I never imagined living the rest of my life without you being here. Feared it? Yes. Believed it? No.
I've made some new friends....friends who never knew you. How I wish they could have seen the sparkle of your eyes! Just know you are with me every moment in my heart. I'm so proud to be your mother.
Lee and Blues Festivals / Mom
Lee was always at most of the blues festivals I attended. Here he is at the 1997 Bull Durham Blues Festival. Just to his right in the photo is musician Taj Mahal. (Photographer: Dick Waterman)
TO DEAR LEE XXOO / Jane Einarson (I care/Friend )Read >>
TO DEAR LEE XXOO / Jane Einarson (I care/Friend ) Thinking of you sweet Lee & your special Mom. All my love & care. Gaile, I keep you in my thoughts & heart with dear Lee XXOO Close
Message posted on HTML Gear - 10/23/2004 / Lee News Read >>
Message posted on HTML Gear - 10/23/2004 / Lee News
I wanted to make a post about Lee. Eric "Lee" Welker Jr, passed away early Friday morning, Oct. 15. He was suposed to turn 20 on Monday the 25th. He died of a heart attack brought on by advanced heart disease. No one had any idea. I found him around 6am Friday morning and he was already gone. I loved Lee for a long time, and I will love him forever....... The world is less without Lee. Visit his websites:
FOR DEAR SWEET LEE, THINKING OF YOU XXOO / Jane Einarson (I care/Friend )Read >>
FOR DEAR SWEET LEE, THINKING OF YOU XXOO / Jane Einarson (I care/Friend ) Close
A visit from Jack.....and a picture.... / Mom Read >>
A visit from Jack.....and a picture.... / Mom
Today, I had a visit from Jack; the freshman who won your scholarship this year. His visit made me very happy. You would really like Jack. I think the two of you would have been good friends if you had known each other.
Jack is a kind and geniune person. As I have told others many times, I feel like he is the perfect person to have received your scholarship. I'm so glad some snotty young person didn't get it! Jack is far from being a snob! He's one of the nicest people I've ever met.
Have been thinking so much about you since I woke up this morning, Lee. That's not really unusual but today has just been sort of "different" in some way since this morning. Whatever has caused it has made me feel better and the visit from Jack was a bonus!
Here's a picture of Jack from today. Lee, I love you so much! You are forever in my thoughts and dreams. (January 4, 2006)
THINKING OF YOU DEAR LEE WITH LOVE ALWAYS! / Jane Einarson (I care )Read >>
THINKING OF YOU DEAR LEE WITH LOVE ALWAYS! / Jane Einarson (I care ) Dear Gaile, thank you for your very lovely tribute on Matthew's site. Thank you for all of your kind & wise words. You & precious Lee are in my thoughts & heart. I pray that this season is gentle & peaceful. I just wish with all my heart that I had better words of comfort. God Bless you. You are a dear special lady. Close
THINKING OF YOU DEAR LEE WITH LOVE & RESPECT / Jane Einarson (I care )Read >>
THINKING OF YOU DEAR LEE WITH LOVE & RESPECT / Jane Einarson (I care ) Close
It's that time of the year again. You would be laughing at some of the presents I got for your brother! Maybe you're laughing now because you can see them...I'm hoping.
Butch is doing fine. He is one spoiled bird! If I say your name to him, he starts looking around all over the place...waiting for his favorite person to appear.
I'm so thankful for your brother....he gives me the will to live. I've made some new friends this year and am so thankful for the friends I already had/have. Without them, and J. Rae, I don't think I would have survived this far.
Please continue looking out for your family and friends. We need you in our lives...in whatever way possible. You are my precious son and I will always, always be proud of you. Love you soooooooooo much!
...about the time I took the door off your bedroom for awhile...you were not happy with me...but I told you not to smoke in the closet, silly! I can just imagine you describing your over-protective mom! Whatever angst you went through, I know you loved me with your heart! I can still feel the last hug I got from you...it was real and loving.
I always wanted to protect you from everything in the world that could hurt you or cause you not to be with us. We both hurt each other with mis-communication at times but we are always "mom and son".... always the bond is there and will never be broken.
Life is fragile....and I am fragile without you here with us now. I will never stop yearning for us to have you back. Life is sure not as interesting without your constant surprises and talent! Always loving you (but you know that). Close
Lee's fund / from the Piedmont Blues Preservation website / Lee News Read >>
Lee's fund / from the Piedmont Blues Preservation website / Lee News
Lee Welker Memorial Scholarship
John ["Jack"] Nugent, an Appalachian State University student from Apex, NC, has been awarded the first scholarship from The Lee Welker Memorial Annual Music Scholarship. Lee Welker was the son of KBA [2004 Keepin' The Blues Alive Award] winner Gaile Welker.
Translations for Lee's name in different languages / Lee News Read >>
Translations for Lee's name in different languages / Lee News Translations for: Lee
Nederlands (Dutch) luwte, lij(zijde) Français (French) côté à l'abri du vent, à l'abri du vent Deutsch (German) n. - Schutz, Windschattenseite adj. - Lee- Ελληνική (Greek) n. (ναυτ.) υπήνεμη πλευρά, πλευρά προστατευμένη από τον άνεμο adj. υπήνεμος
Italiano (Italian) riparo del vento, rifugio Português (Portuguese) n. - lugar (m) protegido do vento, sotavento (m) (Náut.) adj. - a sotavento Русский (Russian) укрытие, подветренная сторона, подветренный Español (Spanish) n. - abrigo, sotavento adj. - de sotavento, a sotavento Svenska (Swedish) n. - lä, läsida adj. - lä-
Lee, I was going through photos and found a photo I took during this past 4th of July weekend at Festival For The Eno in Durham. I knew you would have loved this bus and would have wanted to take a photo of it yourself. Love you a million x's a trillion!
...I've been trying to keep my head up the past few weeks; they've been especially hard for me. I can't really describe to anyone how colors are not as bright as before; how good things that happen aren't as good when I can't share them with you.
I was reading one of your journals. There's a part where you described the reasons you were proud of me....I love reading that! I remember how much you disliked doing those journals for home school! I'm so glad I have them now.
I have some of the lyrics you never put to music although you'd already done the music for them. I try to imagine how you would have sang them. A lot of your music is sad and I hate to think you were as sad as some of those lyrics sound when you wrote them. You did a lot of humorous music, too, though! I miss your humor.
Lee's Appalachian State University Memorial Book / Lee's Mom Read >>
Lee's Appalachian State University Memorial Book / Lee's Mom Some excerpts from a few of the entries:
"Lee was the most interesting person I ever had the opportunity to meet. He is loved and will be missed." - Jennifer Rogers
"He will never be forgotten. He was the best friend I could have ever asked for." - Ben Crissman
"Lee, Hoey's gonna miss you so much. You won't be forgotten." - Dana P.
"I'm sorry for the loss of your son. I didn't know him that well but from what I did know about him was that he was a great poet. I will miss him. Peace and love to all." - Brian G.
"Lee was a good loyal friend to me through middle and high school. I will always remember playing soccer with him. He was a great person." -Cleve Fairchild
"I knew Lee in middle school and high school...I am sorry for your loss. Your family will continue to be in my prayers daily...." - Haley Parrish
"Lee was a great hallmate and we'll all miss him." - David S. 225
"It was great having Lee on our floor. His music will be missed." - E. Lee Butler 221
"Your creativity and good will will never pass away. You taught me more than I knew possible and I will miss you more than I can stand. You definitely left your mark on this world and you'll never be forgotten. Much love to your family." - Chris Close
Our Sons Had Much In Common / Pam Jones (Cody Jones's Mom )Read >>
Our Sons Had Much In Common / Pam Jones (Cody Jones's Mom )
To Lee's mom.....Wow, I'm so sorry for your loss. It looks and sounds like our sons would have really hit it off. Cody was "working his way up" the ladder of Drum and Bass. He loved it. We sure do miss him, every minute of every day. People say he is in a better place, and I sure do hope so, and believe so. One of my friends said that phrase, and then caught herself. She followed it up by saying, "That doesn't help you any right now though, does it?" People are so understanding, helpful, and supportive. We have all learned a lot from Cody's death. How God loves us unconditionally, and we are supposed to do the same. How matchless the grace and mercy of God are. How much He loves each one of us.When Cody was still with us, he taught me that people who love each other can "agree to disagree", and it doesn't hurt one bit. Thank-you so much for lighting a candle. I know this website seems silly to some people, but those people have probably not felt this kind of loss. I heard it said the other day that the reason we grieve so for a child, is that we have lost someone we love more than we love ourself. That makes perfect sense to me. This web site helps me feel like I can talk to Code, and talk to others who share this burden of grief. God Bless You, and Your family. Love......PJ Jones
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