Paul Lee drives a hearse for a living. When he pulls into a gas station, the ordinary – filling up a gas tank – becomes unusual and dignified.
But if you keep watching Mr. Lee, you see something else. People walk up to his hearse and start talking. They smile and laugh. It’s an odd juxtaposition, people shooting the breeze next to a funeral car.
This juxtaposition is why we first wanted to make a documentary about Paul Lee.
But once we got to know him, we learned that he was much more than the driver of a funeral car. He is an ordained Deacon, a Vietnam veteran, a former schoolteacher and railroad worker.
Most importantly, Mr. Lee is a pillar of his community. This is not just because of his job, but also because of how he lives his life – with kindness, devotion and respect.