Mary Watkins Lee, 89 years of age, passed away, September 20. 2008 in Williamston, North Carolina. She was the daughter of the late Bessie Morris and Carey D. Watkins, Sr. of Wake County, North Carolina. She was the widow of Joel T. Lee and the mother of the late Jerry T. Lee.
Mrs. Lee was educated at Meredith College and graduated from North Carolina Wesleyan College. She taught English in Nash County and Hertford County Schools. She encouraged her students and descendants to acquire all the education possible to them. It was very important to her.
Mrs. Lee’s survivors include Faye L. Vinson and her husband, James C. Vinson, Jr. of Conway, NC; her grandchildren, Deborah V. Britt of Courtland, VA, J. Lee Vinson of Baltimore, MD, and Joel C. Vinson of Greenville, NC; her great-grandchildren, Frank Britt, Ashley B. Webb, Meredith Britt, Peyton Vinson, and Garrett Vinson; and her great-great-grandson, Ethan Carroll Webb. She was “Sister” to Mildred Whittlesey, Martha Tola, Carey D. Watkins, Jr., T. Wrey Watkins, and the late Tracey A. Watkins.
A funeral service for Mrs. Lee was held Monday, September 22, 10:30 A.M. in Ashley’s Grove Baptist Church and burial followed at 3:30 P.M. in Montlawn Memorial Park, 2911 South Wilmington St., Raleigh, NC. Rev. David Ross presided at both services.
Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association of North Carolina, 400 Oberlin Road, Raleigh, N.C. 27605-1351, or to the charity of the donor’s choice. Funeral services were provided through Bridgers Funeral Home, Inc., of Conway, N.C. and Bryan-Lee Funeral Home of Garner, N.C.