The Louise Bennett-Coverley Heritage Council, expresses sincere condolences to the family of the Rev. Fr. Easton Lee, CD - distinguished author, theatre director, broadcaster, actor, and public relations consultant, who died on January 18th in Florida, after a short illness. He was 89 and leaves behind, Jean, his wife of 70 years, 2 sons, 2 daughters. 8 grand-children and 5 great–grandchildren.

     Easton Lee was born to a Chinese father and a Jamaican mother of mixed racial heritage in 1931, in Wait-a-Bit, Trelawny, Jamaica. He attended Siloah Primary, Duncans Primary and Windsor High schools and recalls that many evenings, during his elementary schooldays, were spent under the counter of his parents' shop, as they attended to customers and helped him with homework. Unaware of his presence, they often discussed village happenings in great detail, giving him invaluable insight into the “grass-roots” culture of Jamaica.  

      His attention later turned to his Chinese heritage, finding that those teachings were not that different from others and in some instances were identical. This lively interest in and knowledge of, Jamaican and Chinese folklore, was broadened and enhanced, when he went to work with the Jamaica Social Welfare Commission and the JIS (Information Service), audio-visual programming which took him to every corner of the island.

   Easton was a member of the Caribbean Thespians Dramatic Society, and soon established himself as a major actor, playwright and director. His professional career, enhanced by his education in radio Broadcasting and Production from the BBC and Theatre Arts from the Pasadena Playhouse in California, was spent chiefly in the field of communication, where he maintained a standard of excellence.