Observer Co-Publisher Kathryn C. Lee Passes at 77

SACRAMENTO – She was a contestant in the Miss Amigos pageant in Sacramento in 1954, but those who knew her said her true beauty lie in her ability to help provide opportunities for other African Americans in the region.

Kathryn C. Lee, co-publisher of the Sacramento Observer Newspaper, passed away peacefully at her home on Monday, March 25. She was 77.

Mrs. Lee was born in New Orleans, La., on Nov. 19, 1935. She moved to Sacramento when she was eight years old. Her family settled in the Oak Park area. After high school, she attended San Francisco State College. She married local real estate broker William H. Lee in 1961. In 1962, the couple and several other area leaders pooled their finances and bought a local religious paper, The Sacramento Outlook. The name was later changed to The Sacramento Observer.

Mrs. Lee became the embodiment of the adage, "behind every good man, is a great woman," but was a leader her own right — especially for other local African American women.

In 1956, she was the first African American woman to work at the Sacramento County Sheriff's office. Despite witnessing blatant acts of racism and discrimination, she remained undaunted and helped open doors for many other African American women pursuing careers in law enforcement.

After leaving the sheriff's department, Mrs. Lee worked as a pioneering legislative aide in the California State Capitol for 14 years. Brown faces weren't common place at the Capitol at that time, but Mrs. Lee made it her place to advocate for an increase in job opportunities for minorities, particularly as legislative staff members.

Mrs. Lee was the first African American to serve on the Sacramento County Grand Jury in 1973. She later went to work at the Sacramento Observer full-time as assistant publisher. While her husband focused on the news end of the business, Mrs. Lee focused on its finances.

Kathyrn and Bill Lee became leaders in the community and as their newspaper was rewarded for its journalistic excellence, Mrs. Lee was equally lauded. Her accolades include being named the 1970 Woman of the Year by the Women's Civic Improvement Club; the Greyhound Corporation's Woman of the Year in 1991, the National Council of Negro of Women, Sacramento Valley Section's "Most Outstanding Women" award in 1993; 1999 recipient of the Second Annual Madame CJ Walker Entrepreneurial Award; the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Sacramento Chapter's 2002 Pioneer Award; and the Links, Inc.'s 2002 Partnership Service Award.

Mrs. Lee said it was her desire to rise above challenges and live a life full of love, integrity and purpose.

Mrs. Lee was preceded in death by eldest son Roderick Joseph Lee and brother Phillip Charles. She is survived by her husband Dr. William H. Lee, sons William H. Lee, Jr. and Lawrence Lee, daughters in law Monet Lee and Maria Lee, siblings Raymond Charles, Iris Sims and Donald Charles, five granddaughters and a host of nieces and nephews.

Services for Kathryn Lee will be Monday, April 1st,  11:00 am at Center of Praise Ministries on 23rd and Capitol. The Wake will be held Saturday, March 30, noon-4pm at Morgan Jones Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made to:

The Greater Sacramento Arthritis Foundation

185 Heritage Lane #183

Sacramento, CA 95815

(916) 368-5599