Brief, but meaningful words of encouragement. Or a facial expression with one cocked eye.
Without yelling or screaming, Vernon Lee used those methods to quietly, firmly and effectively make his point. Anytime his son, Vershon, wanted to quit or wallow in self-pity, Vernon reminded him to stay grounded, humble and focused. Nothing good came from griping or pouting.
It’s a lesson the 23-year-old Freedom-Woodbridge graduate relied on to land a spot on the Minnesota Vikings’ practice squad after he tried out unsuccessfully for three other NFL teams.
And it’s a lesson that sustained him through the most difficult moment of his life.
On Feb. 4, Vernon Lee, a security assistant at Freedom-Woodbridge High School and former head girls basketball and assistant football coach there, was killed in a crash on the shoulder of the Interstate 95 Express Lanes near Triangle. Vernon’s 2020 Lexus SUV was stopped on the right shoulder when it was struck by a 2022 Ford work truck that went off of the right side of the interstate.
After being struck, the Lexus hit the guard rail and then went back into the travel lanes, where it stopped, facing traffic. Vershon’s older sister, Shannon, was also in the Lexus and suffered serious injuries.
At the time of Vernon’s death, two days before he would have turned 58, Vershon was six hours away training for South Carolina’s Pro Day and the NFL Draft at a facility in Pennsylvania.
When his mother, Chantelle, called to tell him what happened, Vershon, of course, wanted to come home and offer comfort. That’s what any good son and brother would do for his mother and sister. Be there for others.
Chantelle, though, told Vershon to stay put. He needed to continue training. When it was time to come back for the funeral service, Chantelle would let him know.
“You finish what you started,” Chantelle told Vershon. “That’s all he needed to hear.”
With his family watching, including his father Vernon (far left), Vershon Lee participates in a ceremony at Freedom-Woodbridge when he signed with South Carolina.
Courtesy
Unwavering belief
Respecting his mother’s wishes, Vershon stayed in Pennsylvania until the funeral Feb. 13 in Petersburg and then returned afterward. No matter the circumstance, Vershon still had a goal of reaching the NFL. And nothing would please his father more than sticking to that goal.
“I think about him all the time,” Vershon said. “He always believed in me.”
Vershon still grieved. He had lost his best friend, the one person who knew how to motivate him and who modeled for Vershon proper priorities that started with a faith in Jesus. Vernon had given his life to Jesus at a young age and was baptized by his father, the Rev. Vernon Lee Sr.
With that kind of background, Vershon knew that a woe-is-me attitude had no place in the Lee household.
“Vernon was the ultimate coach, the ultimate father and the ultimate mentor,” Chantelle said. “His approach to sports was always, don’t give up. You keep grinding.”
At 6-foot-4, 318 pounds, Vershon had the size to attract NFL interest. He also was versatile. Vershon appeared in 51 games during his college career at South Carolina, including 40 starts – 18 at center, 16 at left guard and six at right tackle.
He just needed a chance.
Vershon was not selected in the 2025 NFL Draft but remained hopeful of catching on with a team after the Kansas City Chiefs and the Chicago Bears invited him to attend rookie mini-camp tryouts. He also worked out for Cleveland, but the Browns passed on him as well.
After living in Woodbridge, Vershon and his family had relocated to Chester. He continued to train near his home in Richmond before the Vikings brought Vershon in for a tryout June 12. Minnesota had hosted Vershon for a pre-draft top 30 visit and now wanted to take another look.
Vershon thought he performed well and so did the Vikings. They signed him the next day.
Vershon Lee was a first-team all-district offensive and defensive lineman his senior season at Freedom-Woodbridge High School.
Bill Kamenjar/For InsideNoVa
Staying put
During the preseason, Minnesota used Vershon at guard and center, but had he done enough to remain with the Vikings? On Aug. 26, teams needed to cut their rosters to 53 by 4 p.m.
Any released players had to clear waivers by noon the following day before NFL teams could sign them to practice squads.
Vershon called his mother Aug. 26 to update her. He told Chantelle he did not make the 53-man roster, but Minnesota wanted to sign him to its 16-player practice squad as long as no other team claimed him during the waiver period.
As he explained to his mother, making the practice squad allowed him to remain with the team as a developmental player and be on standby if Minnesota needed a fill-in for its active roster.
Chantelle could tell Vershon was disappointed he did not make the final 53, but he still considered the practice squad a wonderful opportunity. He had an NFL home for the moment. Not every rookie could say that.
“I believe he used the word, ‘blessing,’” Chantelle said.
Chantelle and Shannon attended each of the Vikings’ three preseason games. But otherwise, Chantelle tuned out news about projected roster cuts and depth charts. To keep busy, she and Shannon spent their days leading up to Aug. 26 cleaning out the family garage to create a she-shed.
Chantelle saw no reason to let stress consume her. It wasn’t her nature to fret. She’d find out Vershon’s fate when Vershon informed her.
“I’m just beyond grateful,” Chantelle said. “He’s worked hard for this opportunity.”
Vershon Lee
Andy Kenutis
Chantelle sees positives coming out of Vernon’s death. Coming from a Christian family, Vershon reads his Bible every day and soaks in its promises to help carry him through tough times.
Vernon’s death, she believes, prompted Vershon to rely on God even more and know there’s more to our lives than just the here and now.
One scripture, Chantelle says, comes to mind. It’s from 2 Corinthians 5:7-9: “For we live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.”
Although his father is no longer here in person, Vershon still knows Vernon is a part of him and that he and his mother and sister “were loved by one of the best people God ever created,” Chantelle said.
There’s no reason, then, for Vershon to rely on any outward rituals to honor his father. He has all he needs inside of him: his faith and his father’s timeless lessons.
Yes, he’s still grieving. But he’s still living and pursuing his dreams.
“He was there every day for me in high school and college,” Vershon said, “and he will be with me for the rest of my life.”