Nothing crazy yet Gaile! Been a really terrible year. Too much happening at one time. Lee and you are never far from my mind. Computer at home died a while ago so I just depend on work one. It's just so hard to keep up anymore and I know you know what I'm talking about my friend. Write back when you get a minute.
Love to you Lee. You are so missed and loved my sweet child.
...letting go but never all the way... / Gaile (Mom) "...Salt of the waves And of tears And though he pulled away I kept him here for years I let him go
My name is Calypso I have let him go In the dawn he sails away To be gone forever more And the waves will take him in again But he'll know their ways now I will stand upon the shore With a clean heart
And my song in the wind The sand will sting my feet And the sky will burn It's a lonely time ahead I do not ask him to return I let him go I let him go."
-Suzanne Vega ("Calypso")
In Respect of Your Memory / Lori Henderson (Friend) Lee, I didn't know you personally, but from what I see now, I know how very dear and special you are to all your friends and family. Handsome, smart and talented....I feel lucky to know of you now and so very lucky to have met your wonderful Mom. With Love & Respect, Lori
Loving you always, Lee xoxox / Gaile (Mom) "We know ourselves by the stories we tell. Losing you has dismantled my storyline and shaken my plot; the tale I tell about who I am and where I'm going doesn't make sense anymore. I want desperately to find other words that will imagine my life anew. I just don't know where and how that story will begin." -Molly Fumia (from "Safe Passage")
Lee's new niece - Brooklyn Rae / Gaile (Mom)
Lee's new niece (and only niece or nephew) was born August 11, 2007 @ 10:46 a.m. She weighed 6 lbs. & 3 ozs. She's precious and beautiful! I so wish Lee were here to see her. He would be beaming! I'm sure he's looking out for her.
2006-2007 Remembrances / Remembering Lee October 15, 2006 I miss you so much Lee... not a day goes by that I don't think of you and remember every moment that we spent together. I love you. Jimmie Huggins (Asheville, NC)
October 16, 2006 It's been said that time heals. That may be true for some people but life will never be the same for me without you. I was so looking forward to what life would have brought. I wonder who you would have married; what my grandchildren would look like; what path your career would take - the list is longer than I can write here. I miss you, sweet Lee, more than anyone could know. I take a lot of comfort in the fact that you were so loved by so many people. It was such a pleasure to have known you. You were an extraordinary person and will be missed and loved for always. Lee's mother (NC)
October 16, 2006 I was proud and blessed to know Lee and his family. He touched so many people in his short life. Pammy Davis (Pleasant Garden, NC)
October 16, 2006 Lee, I think of you all the time. We miss you so much. Love, C c tennant (buffalo, NY)
October 16, 2006 I never had the chance to meet you, and that is what make your passing harder for me. Just know there are people trying very hard to make sure your legacy lives on. I rediscovered, with your mom's help, that my mom passed the same day only years earlier. So there is a bond that is forever there. Tina McCullough (Joshua, TX)
October 16, 2006 Hi I never knew you in person Lee, but I think I would have liked you a lot. I also think you have a very lovely, brave mother and some great friends who will keep you alive in memory forever. Jo Jo Joanne Green (Birmingham England)
October 16, 2006 I never met Lee during this lifetime. (Well, I don't know that for sure because I did attend many blues, folk, and bluegrass festivals all over Virginia, Maryland, and PA for many years when I lived there.)
But I do have him in my heart (and his beautiful Mother, too.) May God bless you all.
S Wheeler (FL)
October 16, 2006 Lee's music continues to touch and unite people. That's such a cool thing to think about, that total strangers can become friends by sharing appreciation for another person's art and thoughts. Cody (NC)
October 16, 2006 Lee, you are missed in this house and many others. Tom McLees (Greensboro, NC)
October 16, 2006 To: The Welker Family
I never had the pleasure of meeting Lee, but know he had the spirit and gentle soul of a musician. I am friends with his mother Gaile, who keeps his memory and spirit alive in a beautiful way. Lee and his entire family are in my thoughts and prayers during this anniversary time. May Lee's sweet songs fill the air.
October 16, 2006 What each must seek in his life never was on land or sea. It is something out of his own unique potentiality for experience… something that never has been and never could have been experienced by anyone else...I believe Lee found his~* JAY ANTOL (virginia beach, VA)
October 17, 2006 Lee is in my mind and soul. I watched him grow up into the beautiful and talented man he became. I pray his mother, my long time friend, will find peace in his passing. Love, Kathy Kathleen Smith (Norfolk, VA)
October 17, 2006 The day I found out about your death was actually on the 17th back in 2004. I cannot believe that it has already been two years since you left this world. Sometimes, it still hurts like it was yesterday, a fresh series of cuts on my heart. And other days, it's a little more managable, but never, ever easy. You left an impression on this earth, and the people who inhabit it, that others only dream of! You are such an amazing person and I will always be proud to have called you my significant other, but most importantly, my friend. You always gave me a shoulder to cry on and advice when I was having trouble with a boyfriend, even though we weren't together anymore. You didn't have to do that, but you did, and that proves your strength and your loyalty. You are one of the most talented and creative souls I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. In my opinion, there's no better gift to give a girlfriend/boyfriend than a good old-fashioned song written just for them. You did that for me on more than one occasion, and it touched my heart more than most of the gifts I've gotten in the entirety of my years. I hope you knew that. I think that two good things that came from this tragedy(not that they make the end result worthwhile, but they are still precious). 1.I've gotten the chance to know your wonderful, smart, thoughtful, Mom, 2.I'm more aware of how precious life is (both my own and those of the ones dear to me). I try very hard not to let arguments go on because I'm too stubborn to forgive someone. It's just not worth the guilt that ensues. I wish I had more time to tell everyone how wonderful you are and how much to mean to me. You are missed and you will never be forgotten. I love you, and I always will. Katherine Bassler (Greensboro, NC)
October 18, 2006 Will keep Lee in our thoughts & prayers during these difficult times. John Schelp (Durham, NC)
October 25, 2006 October 25, 2006. Today would have been your 22nd birthday. How I wish you were here with us. I love you, Lee. Missing you so very much. xox Mom Gaile (NC)
October 25, 2006 October 25, 2006. Today would have been your 22nd birthday. How I wish you were here with us. I love you, Lee. Missing you so very much. xox Mom Gaile (NC)
October 25, 2006 much respect & love peace & blessings Sol Creech (VA)
October 26, 2006 Even tho your gone from sight, you are not gone from my heart. I cherish the times I listened to you and your brother play your guitars and sing. those that knew you were blessed, and those that didn't, well, they wish they had. You will live on in my heart. I am truly blessed to have known you. Cynthia White (Soda Springs, ID)
November 7, 2006 I will always remember you and have lve in my heart for you and your mother. Aunt Dot Welker (Greensboro, NC)
November 21, 2006 Dear Lee, Thanksgiving is almost here and I have been dreading it. Trying to get myself in a mind-frame to give thanks for all else that's good in the world but Thanksgiving (or any other holiday) will never be the same without you. -Mom xox Gaile
December 31, 2006 Missing you at the New Year and always.
"...Light a candle in his memory,
Tell me you remember..." -Peg Rousar-Thompson
Gaile/Mom (NC)
February 22, 2007 I was just thinking about how much you would love a day like today. I missed getting a gift from you on Valentine's Day. You were always so sweet to remember me on that day. Love you always. -Mom Gaile Welker (NC)
"You Will Always Breathe" / Jim R. (brother)
Lee's brother wrote and recorded this song for Lee. It's one of my favorite songs in the world and gives me hope. I am so thankful I have my oldest son. I worry about him constantly, of course! (May 2007 - My oldest son is now married and expecting his first child.)
Online Slide Show Tribute to Lee / Lee News (2/27/2006)
Updated July 14, 2006 - It seems unreal that Lee has passed. He was so full of life and talented enough to give some of it away and still have an abundance. I miss him every single day; every hour. If you have not had the pain of losing a child, please do not ask me why I still mourn. I will always mourn for Lee. This is not to say my life does not go on but the changes are hard and painful.
I happened to pick up a book at the library a while back. I put it back once and picked it up again; not knowing why. It's called "The Lively Spirit". The author, a writer for much of his life, had finally written a book about his daughter. She had died 30 years before he wrote the book and it took him 30 years to go through some of her belongings! It was too painful before then.
I had no idea why I was so drawn to this book in the way I was. I found out, as I read, his daughter's name was Lee and she was 19 or 20 when she passed. She was a musician. I've re-read the book several times since then. It was a gift I was given by some pull toward it and it has brought me comfort.
Another early movie of Lee by his brother / Lee News
"it came from somewhere"
(Please stop the background music on the top right side of Lee's website to play the movie....you can hit your back button to return to this site after viewing video.)
GREENSBORO — Gaile Welker cries every day. Instead of greeting each new day with joy, Welker wakes up to a nightmare that never really ends.
It all started Oct. 15, the day her 19-year-son, Lee, died. Since then, she has never been the same. People have told her to move on. But she can't take that advice. She sees it as an insult to the indelible mark her son's life and death has made on her.
"You never get over it," she says with a sad sigh. "You just learn to live around it, and there is no getting back to normal — you always miss them."
Lee died because of a longtime heart complication undetected by doctors. But Welker is reluctant to talk about her son's death. She prefers to talk about the things Lee loved, such as art, film and music. That's why she decided to hold a benefit Sunday at The Blind Tiger to raise money for a scholarship in his name and to play the music he loved so much.
Music was Lee's passion, one he shared with his entire family.
"Everyone played dulcimer in our family," Welker says. "It bonded us together."
Lee grew up steeped in music. He got his first piano when he was just a year old and started music lessons at age 4. Lee went on to become good at a host of instruments: piano, violin, harmonica and acoustic, bass and electric guitar.
Welker says that her son also spent a lot of time helping her produce her local cable blues show on GCTV, and through that show, he became pretty close with the artists involved with Tim Duffy's Music Maker Foundation, a nonprofit in Hillsborough that helps elderly blues musicians.
One of Lee's most treasured possessions was a guitar given to him by North Carolina blues artist Willa Mae Buckner. "Lee was simply born to be a musician," Welker says.
Before his death, Lee was studying music at Appalachian State University and writing a lot of music. He worked so hard at his craft that Welker sometimes would find her son sleeping with his guitar.
Welker always thought her son was special. She also knew he was always in a hurry. In fact, Lee was almost born in the lobby of the hospital. But she also had a feeling, deep down, that her son was not too long for this world.
"People have told me that for some reason I always seemed scared for him and was overly protective of him," she says. "My oldest son never understood it —but I think Lee knew it. His whole life, he was in a real hurry — to learn things, to create things, to leave something."
These days Welker works tirelessly to keep her son's memory alive. Her Web site overflows with love and fond memories. You'll find audio of Lee's original songs — he had completed his first CD, "Watching the Sounds," right before he died — as well as videos, stories and pictures, from his first drink from a baby bottle to playing onstage with Statesville bluesman Abe Reid.
Welker recently established a music scholarship at Appalachian State University in Lee's name, to help kids who share her son's passion and dreams.
"I want to try to help some other kids have a future — help them financially," she says.
Do you want to be a part of that? Here's how. On Sunday afternoon, musical folks in our community will get together to share stories and the music of young Lee Welker at The Blind Tiger and raise money for Lee's music scholarship at ASU.
So go. Remember Lee. Dive into his memory and revel in the gifts he brought to us. Donate some cash and have a good time.
Lee would have seriously dug that.
Allison King, a local award-singing singer, has covered the Triad's music scene for 11 years for various publiciations. Go!See!Do! Benefit for Lee Welker When: 4 p.m. Sunday [June 26, 2005] Where: The Blind Tiger, 2115 Walker Ave., Greensboro Cost: $5 Information: 272-9888 Etc.: Bands slated to appear include Abe Reid and The Spike Drivers, Sky Kings, Ladies Auxiliary. Doors open at 4 p.m. Bands start at 6 p.m. Gaile Welker's Web site is http://lee-welker.memory-of.com. Her eldest son also has a Web site dedicated to his brother's memory, www.leewelker.com.
oh kindred sister of my heart you have entrusted to me a part of you a part of Lee what you have seen in me made you send such beauty to me my trembling hands my tearful heart did open each package with such love i had seen you had wrapped each with such tender love one each and on it's own apart yet it was the first one that broke my heart when i held a part of your Lee in my hands i could not stand i kneeled in agony of your Lee oh dear lord she has loved him so now sent such an honor to me tears from my heart came pouring forth i cannot tell you how this humbled me true loves ways this is you i know my friends heart was sent to me in each carefully little package wrapped so lovingly i held each with a whisper of a prayer oh how she does know me then as i held the beautiful antique lace i knew i had seen an angels face it is you my friend all within you i have grown to know is within this box i hold so lovingly so i had waited to open it rightfully so i knew somehow you had sent to me something so cherished it was for my eyes to see i cannot thank you enough or tell you how this has affected me just say to you my heart is full of love for you and Lee yes there will be a special ceremony until then he will rest with my love my husband beside him will be a place for Lee until the day comes for the ceremony i hope i pray for peace and love for the sweetest woman i have grown to know yes love you were sent to me from heaven above someone made from the purest of love thank you for all that you do all that you are to me forever my love to you and Lee
sdb 2008 copyright 2008 With all of my love Lee and Gaile, Hummingbird
I now know what was drawing me to get to know you. / Angel Roberson (My daughter is with him now )Read >>
I now know what was drawing me to get to know you. / Angel Roberson (My daughter is with him now )
Wow! Lee you are an wonderful and unique person and I am honored that my daughter Breanna is sharing such an amazing place with such an amazing soul. Your mother is so kind and doing a great job at keeping your memory and your spirit alive. You would be proud at how much hope she has brought to Griefhaven.
Bre was learning to play the guitar for about a yr before she died (and also the flute). She is very smart and very willing to learn. Could you maybe teach her a little something to play for me when I get there one day. She has probably already bugged the snot out of you to help her so you may have already done so. Thankyou in advance.
Gaile, Thankyou for sharing your son with the world, with me. Angel(Breanna's Mom) Close
Thanksgiving 2007 / Gaile (Mom)
Dearest Lee, another Thanksgiving without you has passed. I wanted you to know that I actually went to someone's house for Thanksgiving and did normal T'Day things. I thought I held up pretty well. When I got back home, though, I took a breath and realized that it took a lot of energy to get through it. I thought of how much I miss you and your brother and his family.
So....my real celebration was after I got home...watching all the birds; geese flying over; the beautiful clouds; and the way the wind makes that special sound almost like whispering.
I love you, sweet Lee, and miss you always, always. xoxoxox Close
writing from March 6, 2005 / Gaile (Mom)
I found this in a notebook today. I had forgotten about writing it:
March 6, 2005
I'm all alone with Butch [Lee's bird] here now. Every day is painful. Work helps but when I'm not working, I can't seem to breathe right. The world will never be "right" for me again without Lee. I feel like I failed him and now I can never "fix" it. I pray there is an afternoon I can just think of Lee and laugh at happy memories but that hasn't happened yet unless it's quickly followed by pain.
I've only had the one dream of him since he left me to cope in this world without him. I wish I could dream of him every time I'm asleep. This is just not the natural order of things - my baby gone before he was finished with his life. 19 - almost 20 - disappointed in the adults around him - so sad - so painful. I cry as I'm writing this. I cry every day and it's been almost 5 months. I pray to die silently and painlessly in my sleep every time I go to bed.
Then I remember, there is J. Rae and I don't want to leave him alone in the world! And I still have things to do for Lee. If I'm gone, I don't think anyone else will do them. I cannot let him be forgotten!
He was such an amazing person - a sensitive heart - and even I, at times, did not remember how easily he could be hurt even tho he tried to act so grown.
My boy reached out to me before he died. I reached back but not far enough to save him! Now my life is misery unless he reaches out to me in some form - be it a dream or a bit of happiness rather than feeling like I've been cut in half and will never heal!
Dearest Lee, I've been thinking of you so much lately. Haven't been feeling well and it always seems like the lonliness for your company is much stronger when I'm ill. I would give anything, even my life, to have you back on this earth. You could always make people smile, including me...and I'm afraid I haven't been very good at that these last few years. I could never forget your smile. (And to think I had so much fear the first year that I wouldn't be able to remember your face without looking at a photograph. That was a silly notion on my part...but it really scared me.) Miss you, my son, always, always.
For Lee...Wherever You Are / Gaile (Mother)Read >>
For Lee...Wherever You Are / Gaile (Mother)
I sat outside before dark today and a flock of geese flew over; making their way South, I guess. Looking up made me notice a red flower blooming on a tall bush or tree. The traffic sounds become quieter as the day heads into evening. The panic leading up to December 25th is, little by little, being replaced by calm...as it did last year and the year before.
I think of Christmas past and ponder about Christmas future. Never yet having adjusted to Christmas without your physical presence, I wonder how and if that will change for however many years I am left on this earth. I think of other parents who have lost children; of children who have lost parents; and, of course, of the story of Christmas, which is so very much about a mother losing her son.
Life, as it is, goes on. Many changes although some things never change. Wherever you are, my precious Lee, I hope you're happy and smiling. You're forever in my thoughts. I love you. Close
Tributes and Condolences
