Joseph "Joe" Lee, Jr.

Coats, NC: Mr. Joseph “Joe” A. Lee, Jr. age 86 of 126 Remington Drive died Saturday at his residence.  Funeral services will be 11:00AM Tuesday at Coats Baptist Church.  Revs. Jesse Mooney and Randy Beasley will officiate. Burial will follow at Devotional Gardens in Dunn. Mr. Lee was born August 25, 1926 in Harnett County to the late Joseph A. Sr. and Cornelia Williams Lee. He was preceded in death by all of his brothers and sisters. Mr. Lee was a pharmacy technician, working for McKnight’s Drug Store in Coats for 23 years. In 1974 he joined the Outpatient Pharmacy at Womack Army Hospital at Fort Bragg. He received his diploma from the Pharmacy School, Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Declining health caused him to retire in 1987 and then he worked several years part time with Rose & Graham Funeral Home in Coats. Mr. Lee enjoyed life and helping people. He volunteered for the US Army in 1948 and went directly to Berlin, Germany. Mr. Lee enrolled in the Quatermaster School Center in Darmstadt, Germany and there graduated and received his diploma for Administrative Personnel Technician and was assigned to the 7826th Engineer Service Company. He served during the great Air-lift in blockaded Berlin. Mr. Lee loved his home town of Coats for 86 years and served it well in his younger days. He became a volunteer worker, taking meals on wheels, and worked as an auxiliary police officer. Mr. Lee was a charter member of the first Coats Fire Department, past member of the Jaycees and Kiwanis Clubs. He was also charter member of the Coats Lions Club. Mr. Lee was the leader of the Coats Senior Playmaker Band that won the “Governor’s Award”. He was assistant coach of Beard’s Beauties Baptist girl’s softball team that never had a losing season. Mr. Lee received “Man of The Year” Award in 1996. He also served on the Coats Senior Center Board of Directors and his family received the Family Life Award in 1991-1992. Mr. Lee’s most satisfying work was his church. He was baptized in the old church on April 23, 1961 at the evening service along with his wife Eloise and fifteen others. Mr. Lee taught Sunday school for 36 years beginning with the Intermediate Boy’s class. He was a member of Coats Baptist Church where he served on the board of deacons in many capacities. Surviving are his loving wife of 60 years, Eloise Pope Lee of the home, Daughters and Sons-In-Law, Debbie Jo L. and Darrell Smith of Louisburg, NC, Bonnie Lynn L. and Randy Pope of Coats; Five Grandchildren, Samantha Ledbetter, Casey Nunnery, Bradley Pope, Ryan Pope, Brandi White; Seven Great-Grandchildren, Katelyn and Maddie Stephens, Joey and Will Nunnery, Gabriel Hall and Abby White, Hannah Pope; Several Nieces and Nephews. The family will receive friends at Rose & Graham Funeral Home in Coats from 6:00pm to 8:00pm Monday. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to one’s favorite charity.