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FRANKLIN – Shirley Murphy Lee, 88, of Franklin, was carried by angels home to be with her Heavenly Father on Feb. 7, 2024. She was born on April 18, 1935, in Newton Grove, North Carolina to the late Harvey and Ruth Murphy.

Shirley, also known as Mom, Mema, Essie and Miss Shirley was the eldest of nine children. Shirley attended Emmanuel College where she met the man who would later become her husband, John “Randy” Lee. She completed her education at East Carolina University in North Carolina and began her teaching career in Buxton, North Carolina. She continued serving her community as a school teacher until 1997 when she retired from Deep Creek Elementary School in Chesapeake, Virginia. Although she ha

d retired from teaching, her work was not complete. She continued to teach her family, friends and everyone she came in contact with through the way she lived her life. She enjoyed spending time with family and friends (especially on her porch), working in her flower garden, bird watching and most of all she enjoyed serving the Lord.

Shirley was also preceded in death by her loving husband of 45 years, John “Randy” Lee; three sisters, Hetty, Carolyn and Jennette and one brother, Clayton Murphy.

Left to cherish her precious memory are her two sons, Jay R. Lee (Ellen) and John “Marty” Lee (Heather). She had two grandchildren, Zachary Lee and Jordan Lee Wright (Jeremy); one greatgrandson, Oliver Wright and soon to be second greatgrandson, Beckham Wright, as well as many nieces, nephews and special friends.

A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 17 in Wright Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Riverside Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service in the funeral home and requests that in lieu of flowers, the memorial donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or the Goshen New Life Church in Faison, North Carolina.

www.wrightfuneralhome.org