Lee University lost a beloved friend and colleague this week, as Michael Brownlee, assistant professor of music and keyboard coordinator, passed away on Tuesday. Mr. Brownlee had dedicated 30 years of full-time service to the faculty and students of Lee.
“Michael Brownlee was a wonderfully talented musician,” said Lee President Dr. Paul Conn, at Thursday’s memorial service. “He was a valuable, capable professional. But more importantly, he was a gentle spirit. He was a big part of all of us for the past 30 years, and we will not be the same without him.”
Mr. Brownlee, 60, suffered a stroke two weeks earlier. His wife Gloria is also a member of the Lee faculty, as a teacher of reading in the Department of English and Modern Foreign Languages. His two children, Chet and Gigi, also attended Lee.
Mr. Brownlee, a 1973 music/piano graduate of Lee College, joined the music faculty in 1980. After earning his bachelor’s degree from Lee, he received a masters degree in piano literature from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.
Mr. Brownlee was a member of Ocoee Music Teachers Association, Tennessee Music Teachers Association, National Piano Guild along with several honor societies. Many of Mr. Brownlee’s students have won the Lee University Marley Honors Recital and the Tennessee Music Teachers Association high school and collegiate piano competitions. Mr. Brownlee frequently judged piano competitions himself. He served on campus as a pianist for many events, and has been the pianist at his home church, Westmore Church of God, for many years.
Funeral services were scheduled for Thursday at 1 p.m. in the Westmore sanctuary. Officiating were Lee president Dr. Paul Conn, along with three ministers who are part of the Brownlee/Stone family: former Lee president Dr. Lamar Vest and pastors Jentezen Franklin and Ritchie Franklin. A piano tribute was offered by Mr. Brownlee’s colleague Ning An, also a member of the faculty of the Department of Instrumental Music. The Westmore Sanctuary Choir provided music, led by Stephen Allen. The services were handled by Jim Rush Funeral Homes. Interment was in the Sunset Memorial Gardens in Cleveland.