Hugh Alfred Lee, 91, passed away on Sunday, December 2, 2012 at Moore Regional Hospital in Pinehurst. He was preceded in death by Norma Key Lee, his devoted wife of 61 years.

Born May 28, 1921 in Maggie Valley to Manuel and Mary Woody Lee, he attended Western Carolina University and the United States Merchant Marine Academy. He received his bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his LL.B and Juris Doctorate from Duke University. He served in World War II and the Korean War and had achieved the rank of major before his discharge.

Lee leaves behind a long legacy of service to Richmond County. He practiced law in Rockingham for over 50 years. In 1964 he was appointed to the Richmond Community College Board of Trustees by Governor Terry Sanford, and he served continuously as Board Chair until his death. Lee served as a member of the N.C. House of Representatives from 1982 to 1984 and from 1993 until 1997. He received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine from Gov. Beverly Perdue in 2012. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Rockingham.

Lee is survived by his son, Hugh A. Lee, Jr., of Advance; daughter-in-law Mary Gwyn Lee of Raleigh; and grandchildren Courtney E. Lee of Charlotte and Parker A. Lee of New London, CT.

Visitation will be held from 6pm to 8pm on Wednesday, December 5 at the Richmond Community College Cole Auditorium. A Memorial Service will be held at 11 am on Thursday, December 6 at First Presbyterian Church, 904 Fayetteville Road, Rockingham with Reverend Dwight Williams officiating.

The family has requested that memorials be made to the Hugh and Norma Lee Scholarship Fund, C/O Richmond Community College Foundation, PO Box 1189, Hamlet, NC 28345.

The family is being assisted by Russell-Marks Funeral Home and Cremation of Rockingham.

Paid Obituary