Simon "Chris" Lanuez Perez

Simon Cristo Rey Lanuez Perez, affectionately known to family and friends as Chris, of Fairburn, Georgia, passed away peacefully in his sleep on October 4, 2026, surrounded by love.

Chris was born on October 28, 1945, in Havana, Cuba, to Esperanza Lanuez and Zacharias Conrado Perez Bonilla. His father was a cigar maker, and his mother was a devoted housewife.

At the age of 8, Chris immigrated to the United States and made his home in the South Bronx, New York. There, he laid the foundation for a life marked by intellect, service, mentorship, and a deep commitment to young people and his community.

While living in the Bronx, Chris ran a summer program for boys, giving young men who had never experienced life outside of the city the opportunity to travel to upstate New York. His desire to broaden young people’s horizons and expose them to experiences beyond their everyday surroundings remained a meaningful part of his life.

Gifted with language and communication, Chris was trilingual. After relocating to Georgia, he worked as a translator for the United Nations and the Latin American Association.

Chris had a sharp, inquisitive mind. He was an avid and formidable chess competitor and a devoted student of American history. His love of learning, conversation, and history was an unmistakable part of who he was.

Chris was also a published author. In 2018, he achieved the milestone of becoming a published writer, and he continued pursuing his love of storytelling in the years that followed. In 2024, at the age of 78, he published a fiction novel—an accomplishment that reflected his creativity, perseverance, and lifelong love of ideas and the written word.

One of Chris’s greatest passions was basketball. He dedicated countless years to coaching and refereeing the sport he loved. Basketball was more than a game to him; it was a way to mentor, teach, encourage, and connect with young people. His coaching journey included his own children, creating memories and lessons that extended far beyond the basketball court.

Chris shared his life in marriage with his wife, Ellen Samuels, and together they made their home in Fairburn, Georgia.

He was the biological father of Sean Perez and Ayanna Shephard, and a devoted stepfather to Kim Walton, Charisse Jackson, and Ellen “Jo” Wiley, and for him there were no differences between the two titles.

Chris is survived by his wife, Ellen Samuels; his son, Sean Perez; his four daughters, Ayanna Shephard, Kim Walton, Charisse Jackson, and Ellen “Jo” Wiley; 10 grandchildren; his sister, Esperanza Reid-Hart (Barrington) of New York; and a host of nieces, nephews, extended relatives, friends, former players, and others whose lives he touched throughout the years.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Frank Perez.

From Havana to the South Bronx and ultimately Fairburn, Georgia, Chris lived a life that crossed cultures, languages, communities, and generations. He will be remembered for his intelligence, his love of history and chess, his accomplishments as an author, his dedication to basketball, and the many years he spent teaching, coaching, mentoring, and encouraging others.

Above all, Chris leaves behind a family who loved him deeply. His story continues through his wife, his children and grandchildren, and through the countless memories, lessons, and pieces of wisdom he gave to those fortunate enough to know him.

His life was full, his influence was far-reaching, and his legacy will live on in the generations that follow him.