Janine Evon Lee

Janine Evon Lee (neé Moore) was born on April 1, 1960, to Betty J. Lindsey and Arthur D. Moore in Emporia, Kansas. The fifth of six children, Janine attended William Allen White Elementary School from kindergarten through sixth grade before moving with her family to Ottawa, Kansas, in 1971. She then attended Ottawa Junior High before advancing to Ottawa High School, where her activities included basketball, track, cheerleading and singing as a member of the school’s show choir, The Cytones. She graduated in 1978 with High Honors and, in 2014, was inducted into the high school’s Wall of Honor. Janine went on to attend Emporia State University, earning a bachelor’s degree in rehabilitation services education and a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling. She also holds an MBA from Rockhurst University. Janine’s professional life was shaped by her desire to give back to the community. “We were fortunate to be a family who benefited from the love and generosity of compassionate friends, neighbors and organizations in the community,” she once wrote, recalling her childhood. “As I grew into adulthood, I made a conscious decision to dedicate my life to the nonprofit sector and give back to the community.” Janine went on to work at several prominent philanthropic organizations, including the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation in Kansas City and, in Atlanta, the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation and Philanthropy Southeast, where she was hired as president and CEO in 2011. Her tenure there was defined by a groundbreaking commitment to racial equity, the adoption of new values and guiding principles, and a dedication to courageous leadership. She also served on the boards of national philanthropic organizations, including the United Philanthropy Forum, Independent Sector, Third Sector, and the National Council of Family Philanthropy. Janine was a lover of life and laughter. She was always ready to lend an ear to her many friends and family, including her mother, Betty Lindsey, with whom she enjoyed a close relationship. While her professional accomplishments were many, she remained a woman of humility and integrity throughout her life. She was deeply proud of and committed to her family, especially her sons, Aarin and Devin, as well as her granddaughter, Eden, who she loved dearly. Janine is preceded in death by her grandmother, Seymia Williams; her mother, Betty Lindsey; her father, Arthur D. Moore; her brother, Eric Lindsey, and her sister, Sheri Tucker. In addition to her two sons and granddaughter, Janine is survived by a brother, Tim (Cindy) Moore of Wellsville, Kansas; and two sisters, Denise Smith of Lenexa, Kansas, and Gayla Kelly of Atlanta, as well as a host of nieces and nephews. Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, March 9 , 2024, 3:00 PM at our South Dekalb Chapel 4347 Flat Shoals Pkwy., Decatur, GA 30034. Visitation will be held on Friday, March 8, 2024 from 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM. Please express your condolences here on our website. Services entrusted to Gregory B. Levett & Sons Funeral Home, 4347 Flat Shoals Pkwy., Decatur, GA 30034.

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Janine Evon Lee

April 1, 1960 - February 28, 2024