Lee R. Hall

Lee R. Hall, age 94, died peacefully on October 3, 2023, in Tarboro, North Carolina.

Lee was born to G. Jones Hall and Golda Lee Hall of Pollocksville, North Carolina.

He graduated from Pollocksville High School, East Carolina University and received advanced professional degrees in education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Upon college graduation, he received a commission as a second lieutenant and served for two years in the United States Air Force.

In 1952, he married LaVelle Parker of Ahoskie, N.C. They both chose to become educators and spend their professional lives serving in public schools.

Lee began as a teacher in Bertie County and concluded his career serving for twenty-five years as superintendent of schools for Edgecombe County until his retirement in 1993.  Lee found true joy in his professional life.

During his tenure in education, Lee was particularly pleased to be involved in the construction of a consolidated high school in Leggett for students in the northern part of the county and later involved in constructing another consolidated high school for students in the southern and western areas. Each of these schools was built to provide the high school students with the best possible educational opportunities and remain exemplary schools today. The Board of Education later named the athletic facilities at each school the Lee R. Hall Athletic Complex.

Lee truly loved Edgecombe County Schools. During any day, night or weekend, he could often be found attending school functions. He respected, appreciated, and loved all his fellow educators, the supporting staff, and the students.

Beginning in 1998, Lee's retirement was dominated by his volunteer work with Habitat for Humanity where he served in various leadership roles but also personally labored day after day in the construction of 54 homes.

Lee also cherished his volunteer activity in the Salvation Army Red Kettle drive, ringing the bell in the cold and the rain, even through his last winter.

Throughout his life, Lee participated in numerous church and civic activities, serving as a Sunday school teacher, Deacon, and in leadership in the Rotary Club and the Golden Kiwanis Club, and was on the board of the Edgecombe Community College Foundation Board and the Nash-Edgecombe Board of the Salvation Army.

In 2001, he was chosen as Tarboro-Edgecombe Citizen of the Year and in 2012 he was inducted into the Twin County Hall of Fame.

Lee's other special interests included reading and learning about history and world events and travel. He traveled around the United States and Europe with his daughter, Katherine, and traveled to China to visit the city where his granddaughter Lauren was adopted. Lee's comfortable chair faced a painting of a memorable walk he and his daughter enjoyed in beautiful Portofino, Italy. 

Lee was proud of his son's service in the military, and he was a dedicated supporter of veterans' events.

As an educator himself, Lee unabashedly demanded academic achievement from his children which culminated in his proud attendance at his daughter's graduation from Yale Law School and his son's graduation from the United States Military Academy at West Point.

Lee would like to be remembered as someone who always felt his Lord showered him with blessings. He loved people and he loved each day of his life. He especially loved nothing more than hard work, whether in his professional life or in physical labor. When asked by others how he was doing, he would invariably respond with an enthusiastic - Wonderful!

Survivors include his daughter, Katherine Hall, (from his marriage to LaVelle Hall) and her husband Jeffrey Simon of Vienna, Virginia and their children Adam Lee Simon and Lauren Meiling Simon and Lee's son, Leland Wayne Hall (from his marriage to Marie Hall) and his wife Linda Hall, of West Chester, Pennsylvania and their children, James, Heather, and Eric, as well as five great grandchildren.

A viewing will take place at Carlisle Funeral Home on Sunday, October 8, 2023, between the hours of 4:00 and 5:00 PM.

Lee will be buried next to his wife, LaVelle, in Highland Memorial Gardens near Ahoskie, North Carolina. A graveside service will be held at 11:00 am Monday morning October 9, 2023. Plans for a memorial service in Tarboro may be announced at a later time.

Memorials may be directed to the Tarboro Community Outreach, the Salvation Army Kettle Fund, or a favorite charity.