Honoring Roland Lee Lamison I | Juneteenth & Father’s Day Tribute

Honoring Roland Lee Lamison I

Throughout June, we’ll be highlighting the men and boys whose stories, milestones, and presence continue to leave a mark on our family and community.

Roland Lee Lamison I

Affectionately known to our family as “Baby Lee.”

Some people leave their mark through wealth or fame. Roland’s legacy has been built through hard work, quiet sacrifice, and an unwavering devotion to his family.

Roland is one of the very few men I have known who successfully raised nine children in the city, without the benefit of a garden to help stretch the family grocery budget. Five were his biological children, and four were bonus children, but you would never have known the difference.

He loved, provided for, and nurtured each of them with the same generosity, fairness, and fatherly devotion. To him, they were simply his children.

Providing for a family that large required determination, perseverance, and countless sacrifices. Roland was never afraid of hard work, often holding more than one job to ensure his children had what they needed. He understood that fatherhood was not simply about bringing children into the world. It was about showing up every single day, accepting responsibility, and leading by example.

For more than fifty years, Roland dedicated his career to the mattress manufacturing industry. It may not be a profession that often receives public recognition, yet it is one upon which so many people depend.

There is a good chance that somewhere tonight, someone is sleeping comfortably on a mattress stitched together by hands like his. Though they will never know his name, they have benefited from his craftsmanship. He took pride in his work and performed it with dedication and consistency for more than half a century.

Roland also inherited another wonderful gift from his father, Winget Lamison: a delightful sense of humor. His gentle spirit and easygoing nature have always drawn people to him. Even as a young man, children naturally gravitated toward him.

One of my favorite memories is of Sherry, the first grandchild in our family. Every morning, when it was time to get out of bed, she wanted only one person to come for her.

She would say, “I want Baby Lee to come get me.”

And without hesitation, he would.

That simple memory speaks volumes about the comfort, love, and security children felt in his presence.

Roland is, and has always been, a gentle soul. His life reminds us that true greatness is rarely measured by public recognition or applause. Instead, it is found in quiet faithfulness, tireless work, steadfast love, and a heart large enough to embrace everyone entrusted to its care.

His legacy lives on in the lives of his children, grandchildren, family, friends, and all those fortunate enough to know him. It is a legacy of love, integrity, sacrifice, and unwavering devotion—a legacy that will continue to inspire generations to come.

By Leatha Lamison-White