Joseph Lee Somerville, Sr., affectionately known as “Joe Lee”, was born on November 19, 1939 to the late Rosia “Rosie” Q. M. Somerville and William S. Herbert in Loveville, Maryland. He departed this life peacefully on April 1, 2021 at his home. Joe Lee attended St. Joseph Colored School in Morganza, MD, and Banneker High School in Loveville, MD, graduating in 1959. Joe Lee married the love of his life, Delores Briscoe on November 3, 1962. Together they enjoyed 58 years of marriage until the time of his death. In his early life, Joe Lee worked as a short order cook for Bailey’s Restaurant in Leonardtown, MD. He was a member of Local Union 832 and employed as a concrete finisher in Washington, D.C. and as a truck driver for Charles County Concrete (now Chaney). Joe Lee was also a lifelong waterman. In 1966, Joe Lee joined the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Department (later renamed the Sheriff’s Office) becoming St. Mary’s County’s first African American Deputy. Deputy Somerville was promoted to Lieutenant in 1976. In 1977, Governor Marvin Mandel appointed Lt. Somerville to Sheriff, following the sudden death of then Sheriff Sanger. He was sworn in on the Courthouse steps […]
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