Deidre Renee Lee

Deidre ‘DeeDee’ Reneé Lee (Sperling)

November 23, 1970 - December 22, 2024

The first-born child of Gwendolyn Reneé Poole Chambers and Jerry Lewis Arnold, Deidre ‘Dee Dee’ Reneé Lee (Sperling) was born in Washington, D.C. on November 23, 1970. Growing up in Akron, Ohio, Dee Dee loved hanging out in her grandfather’s game room and attending summer camp at the Akron Urban League where she learned how to swim at an early age. She was an active Sunday School member and a devoted junior usher at Wesley Temple AME Zion Church, and her faith in the Lord was the light that guided the path she took throughout her life.

A young scholar from Old Trail school, Dee Dee eventually transitioned into a proud graduate of John R. Buchtel High School, Class of ‘88. In 1990, she welcomed her beautiful daughter, Marla Lonni-Reneé into the world, and three years later, her handsome son Marlon Nathaniel came along to spark even more joy in her life.

Even though she was precariously balancing both adulthood and motherhood, Dee Dee continued her learning journey long after what was required of her. Following initial coursework at the University of Akron, in 1998 she gathered her children and moved to Greensboro, NC, to start a new life. A true renaissance woman, Dee Dee had the courage to see beyond the limits of the horizon, deny the nay-sayers, and to seek out what God had in store for her, even if it was away from home.

After initially earning a Bachelor’s degree from Guilford College, she went on to obtain her Master’s degree in Business Administration from High Point University. She leveraged her intellect to help the citizens of Greensboro, spending many years working with the city’s housing authorities, eventually working her way up to her final role as the Executive Director of Reidsville Housing Authority.

In addition to the contributions Dee Dee made to her community, she was also a very proud and faithful member of My Faith Looks Up to Thee Ministries in Whitsett, North Carolina, where she served as president of the ushers, church secretary, and often presided over church services.Dee Dee was vibrant and vivacious and carried a beautiful spirit that matched her looks and style. She loved music, traveling, gardening, ballroom dancing, and was famous for her roller-skating abilities and line dancing moves. Lovingly dubbed “Ohio Girl Swagg,” Dee Dee was a Tri-City Hustlerz (TCH) Line Dance ‘Swagg Angel’ and as such was the undeniable life of the party. She loved entertaining and spending time with her family and friends and was always in the mood to celebrate or just have fun. Dee Dee was a renowned hostess and enjoyed having game nights and movie nights at home. She loved gummi bears, pistachios, white chocolate, butter pecan ice cream, chewy red velvet cookies, and notoriously the blueberry cheesecake milkshake from Cookout.

Dee Dee lived a thousand lives, and she lived them all well. She was a wife, mother, daughter, sister, auntie, niece, cousin, friend, skater, and dancer, but her absolute favorite was certainly her life as a GiGi. On September 23, 2017, Dee Dee became a fabulous “GiGi” to her ‘Baby Doll’, Jayla Reneé, marking the beginning of many sleepovers, shopping trips, vacations, and front row seats to circuses and concerts.

Dee Dee’s passion for skating led her to meet a man she loved even more than Anthony Hamilton, and on April 29, 2023, she was reborn yet again when she married her eternal dance partner, Michael Lee, aka “Hubby”. Throughout her life, Dee Dee formed beautiful, profound connections with her family, and meaningful friendships that brought love and joy, not only to her life, but to those that knew her and therefore undoubtedly loved her. We will miss her laughter, her dancing, her generous spirit, her wit and wisecracks, and her beautiful smile, but if anything, we know “our girl” has left her warm spirit with us. The pain of her loss will be felt for years to come; dulled only by her loving energy that will continue to comfort us every time we think of her.

Dee Dee is preceded in death by her cherished grandparents, James & Eddie Mae Arnold, and Lonnie & Maggie Poole; father, Jerry Arnold; uncles; James “Sonny” Arnold and Gregory Poole, Sr., and loving cousin; Murray-Akil Poole. To carry on her memory and her legacy of love, she leaves behind her loving Husband, Michael Lawrence Lee; beloved children, Marla Lonni-Reneé & Marlon Nathaniel Sperling; honored Mother, Gwendolyn Poole-Chambers; adoring baby sister Jaeda Dancy and loving nephews MaliQ & Jaeden Dancy; brothers Jerry, Kevin, & Greg Arnold. Sister Lisa Arnold, Nephews Blake, Brian, & Brandon “Pooh” Arnold; Nieces; Brandis, Katrina, & Kennitra Arnold. Uncles Ellsworth & Gerald Poole, Larry & Michael Arnold; Aunts Vicki (James) Isabell, Marie Jackie Tate & Vicki Arnold; Bonus son, Michael Lee II; ‘Sisters-in-love’, Andrea (Dave) Robinson, Sharon (Hunter) Hardrick, Monique Lee-Myles, Crystal (Walter) Whethers, brother-in-law, Adam Lee; special sister-friend of 40 plus years, Dionne Anderson; and of course her pride, joy, living legacy, and namesake, Her “Baby Doll”, Jayla Reneé Anderson.

In her passing, Dee Dee has left a permanent and unfillable hole in our hearts and our lives, and we will miss her constantly and endlessly. We thank God for all of the beautiful memories we have of her and will cherish them always. Dee Dee will be honored with a celebration of life on Tuesday Jan. 7, 2025, at Wilkinson Funeral Home, located at 1158 S. Arlington St. Akron, OH 44306. Visitation with the family will begin at 11:00 AM and the memorial service will begin at 12:00 PM. Cards, flowers, and condolences can be sent to 3051 Derling Rd. Akron, OH 44319.