Gov. Bill Lee shares how his faith guided him after wife's death, how he first met Jelly Roll at Nat'l Prayer Breakfast

At the 74th annual National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday morning, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee shared how his Christian faith helped him get through the suffering and grief that he and his children felt following the tragic death of his wife.

Lee gave the keynote address at the annual gathering in the nation's capital, where he recounted how he and his children struggled with deep sorrow after his first wife, Carol Ann Lee, died in July 2000.

He recounted thinking that he was “the most blessed man ever” shortly before his wife unexpectedly died in a horse riding accident, saying that his life “took a very dark turn” that day.

Lee talked about “the staggering grief” of his children, which included tough questions from a 4-year-old and his oldest daughter later attempting suicide with a gun, thankfully surviving.

“The days of my life had become chapters of grief, brokenness and sorrow,” he recalled.

Lee recounted ordering a marble grave marker for his wife in the family cemetery, and being left alone with the marker engraved with a Celtic cross and the Bible verse Proverbs 31.

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