Walter Lee Thurston Jr., or "Lee" as he was commonly known, was born on November 18, 1963, at Cambridge City Hospital in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He was raised in Roxbury and attended Highland Park Free School. It was during his early school years that Lee discovered his passion for art, particularly drawing. He began collecting comic books and spent countless hours sketching the superheroes he admired. Before long, his imagination pushed him further, and he started designing and illustrating his own original superheroes. By the time he attended Wellesley High School in Wellesley, MA, Lee had already co-created his own comic book featuring his own band of heroes.

Lee was baptized by his grandfather, the late Elder Tenzer Cunningham, at Straight Gate Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ. At an early age, he became a member of 12th Baptist Church, where he was an active participant in the church's Baptist Youth Fellowship (BYF). He was also active in the church's summer camp program, initially as a camper and, eventually serving as a counselor and mentor to younger participants, and played on TBC's basketball team.

Lee also had a deep love for basketball. He possessed an impressive vertical leap, could dunk the ball with ease, and was a formidable defensive presence on the court. He played varsity basketball at Wellesley High School and later competed in numerous recreational leagues and 3-on-3 tournaments throughout the Boston area. In 1986, he represented the city of Boston in the Bay State Games, where he played alongside the late Boston Celtics star Reggie Lewis while Lewis was a student at Northeastern University. Lee was known for his signature chase-down blocks, where he would sprint the length of the court, perfectly time his leap, and swat opponents' layup attempts out of the air. Many players, even those significantly taller than Lee, believed they had a few steps on him and would make the layup or dunk attempt, only to realize, too late, how wrong they were. Lee also had a deep appreciation for the NBA and could spend hours discussing the league's history, players, and unforgettable moments from any era.

Not too long after graduating high school, Lee began working Merrill Lynch.  Throughout the years, he also worked at Safety Insurance, Putnam Investments, and the Alzheimer's Association before landing a job with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he took pride in his work and the relationships he built with both colleagues and students.

If basketball was one of Lee's great passions, photography became his greatest. He first entered the field by assisting his friend Darryl Kelley, whom he met through a mutual friend, Sal Mills, helping set up equipment at events. It wasn't long before Lee began photographing alongside Darryl and James "JB" Boykin at clubs in and around the Boston area, turning the experience into a thriving "side hustle". Eventually, Lee launched his own photography venture, 337 Photos, booking photoshoots for aspiring models looking to build their portfolios. The name "337" was a clever nod to "Lee," spelled upside down and backwards.

Lee was preceded in death by his father, Walter Lee Thurston Sr., and his older sister, Sheryl Thurston.

Lee is survived by his loving mother, Vivian Cunningham; his younger sisters, Rhonda Thurston, Charita Thurston, and Kenyetta (Thurston) Dunston; his younger brother, David Sherrod Thurston; and his younger brother Jason Carr. He also leaves behind his cherished niece, Tranéa Perry, and nephews Cevon Edwards, Brandon Thurston, Ryan Thurston; great nephew Prince K'Mani Sherrod Thurston; and great niece Rainey Thurston, along with a large and loving circle of aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

Lee's rich, resonant voice and his warm, infectious personality will be remembered fondly by all who knew and loved him.