J. Lee Annis, Jr.

J. Lee Annis, Jr., age 68, of Silver Spring, Maryland, passed away on March 5, 2026 after a short bout with a very aggressive cancer. He was born on May 13, 1957 in Rockledge, Florida, and spent his school years in Alexandria, VA and Rockville, MD, graduating from Robert E. Peary High School in 1974. He earned his bachelor’s degree at Hanover College in Indiana, followed by his Master’s and PhD at Ball State University.

Lee was a historian, teacher and author, spending 4 decades teaching at Montgomery College, while also writing books and articles, grading AP test essays, and other scholarly pursuits. Lee had a wide and varied circle of friends and was the initiator in keeping in touch with more people than most of us can count. He happily enjoyed reunions of any kind; family, school, political connections, and, of course, his annual rock shrimp parties.

Dr. Annis published several well-reviewed books: Howard Baker: Conciliator in an Age of Crisis, Big Jim Eastland: The Godfather of Mississippi, and, with former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, Tennessee Senators, 1911-2001: Portraits of Leadership in a Century of Change, as well as numerous articles in various publications.

His last project was for the bicentennial of his alma mater, Hanover College in Indiana. That project sent him traveling around the country to interview many people connected to Hanover, including former Vice President Mike Pence and actor Woody Harrelson.

He is survived by his sister, Gayle Annis-Forder and her husband, Dick, two aunts and an uncle, many wonderful cousins on both sides of the family, and scores of friends. He was predeceased by his parents, James L. Annis, Sr. and Betty Ann Pound Annis, as well as brother Richard Carl Annis.

Lee’s memorial service will be at Glenmont United Methodist Church, 12901 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring MD 20906 on Saturday, March 21 at 1 pm, with his sister, The Rev. Dr. Gayle Annis-Forder presiding along with others. Internment will be in Indiana in May. Friends are invited to come early or stay after to enjoy chocolate chip cookies in Lee’s honor and visit with Gayle and each other.

Those desiring to make memorial donations in Lee’s memory and honor are invited to give to the institution he dearly loved and taught at for 40 years, Montgomery College. It was always Lee’s desire for students to have access to education, so helping fund that for someone is a perfect tribute. www.montgomerycollege.edu/give. Click on “commemorative gift” and add Lee Annis as honoree.