Deonnis Maryie Lee transitioned into heaven on September 30, 2025, at the age of 36. She was born on January 7, 1989, in Lansing, Michigan, to Tanya Antes and Dennis Wardlaw. As an infant, she was lovingly adopted by Gloria Lee and the late Frankie Lee, who raised her with  compassion and care. She spent her entire life in the Lansing community that she loved so dearly.

A graduate of the Lansing School District, Deonnis dedicated her life to serving others. From a young age, she had a gentle heart and a natural gift for caring. As a child, she found joy in helping her mother care for her disabled grandmother, showing a tenderness far beyond her years. That
same compassion guided her through life and led her to become a healthcare aide — a role in which she poured her heart into every moment.

Her kindness and unwavering dedication touched the lives of so many, leaving behind a legacy of love and selflessness.

Deonnis had a heart of gold. She would give you her last without hesitation and go out of her way to help, no matter what it cost her. Her kindness
wasn't just something she offered; it was who she was. She made sure you knew how deeply she cared. Every conversation ended with her saying, "I love you", and she meant it every time. In all the chapters of her life, the one she cherished most was being a mother—her children  were her truest joy.

Deonnis was preceded in death by: her beloved father, Frank Lee; her maternal and paternal grandparents; and her special friend, Tamika Jenkins.

She leaves to cherish her memories: sons, Deshaun Ezell and Jackson Whalen; daughter, Nevaeh Lee; mother, Gloria Lee; brothers, Malcolm Lee, Robert Frazier, Raymond Antes, Darnell Wardlaw, and Dennis Wardlaw; sisters, Lou Kesha Lee, Synquiss Antes, Naquailia Nail, Naqourea Nash; special friends, Dalanna Brown, Shari Amos, Kyler Redmond, Phanitra Wilson, Thomaca Bush, Monica Lawless and Nakita Simon; biological parents, Tanya Antes and Dennis Wardlaw; along with a host of nieces, nephews, uncles, aunts, cousins and friends.

Arrangements for Ms. Lee are as follows: