COLERAIN – Mary Byrum Lee, age 80, of Colerain, passed away on December 24, 2015 at the Vidant Medical Center in Greenville, NC.

Mrs. Lee was born on June 1, 1935 to the late Henry Rubin and Nettie Suis Byrum in Ahoskie, NC. She was a hard working farmer as well as a homemaker. Mary loved people, never meeting a stranger. She enjoyed spending time outside in her flower gardens, listening to gospel music, doing arts and crafts for herself and to give to others, things that will be cherished for many years to come. Mary was a member of Mars Hill Baptist Church.

Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her loving husband, Joseph Lee; one sister, Ruth Hoggard; and seven brothers, David, Johnny, Stanley, Paul, Lacy, “Red”, and Dan Byrum.

Mary is survived by four sons, Don W. Lee and his wife, Ann of Raleigh, Leslie M. Lee and his wife, JoAnn of Colerain, Tony Lee of Durham, and Robbie Lee of Appoka, FL; five granddaughters, Beth Alston, Erin Carter, Michelle and Nichole Lee, and Ashley Kennedy; two grandsons, Nathan Lee and Nicholas Lee; eight great-grandsons, Derrick, Jr. and Matthew Alston, Ivan Carter, Aron and Christopher Cullipher, Dominic, Andre’, and Issac Kennedy; three great-granddaughters, Anna Katherine and Abby Grace Lee, and Bethany Kennedy; two brothers, Spencer Byrum and his wife Frances of Como, and Roger Byrum and his wife Susie of Greensboro; and two sisters, Patsy Barnes and husband Alvin of Jamesville, and Winnie Bray of Colerain.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, December 30, 2015, at 11:00 am at the Mars Hill Baptist Church, Colerain, NC, with the Rev Greg Hurdle, officiating.

Garrett-Sykes Funeral Service – Ahoskie Chapel is handling the arrangements for the Lee family and online condolences can be directed to the family by visiting www.garrettsykesfs.com.