Virginia Lee

Birth Date: 05/12/1924
Deceased Date: 02/23/2025

On Sunday, February 23, 2025, the sweetest and most beautiful soul left her earthly home of 100 years to receive her eternal reward in Heaven. Gladys Virginia Lee of Princeton was born on May 12,1924, in Buffalo, New York and was the daughter of the late Jesse and Gladys Belch. She, along with her three sisters and two brothers were raised in Ahoskie and Raleigh, North Carolina.

At age 19, Virginia (often called Ginny in her younger years) went to visit her older sister in Newport News, VA where she would soon meet the man that would change her name and her life. After a few short months of meeting, Virginia married William Gresham Lee on July 3, 1943. He proudly brought his new bride back home to Princeton to begin an amazing lifetime of commitment. They wrote a beautiful love story that spanned sixty-five years, and it continued in her heart and in the words she spoke until she saw him again early Sunday morning.
Virginia and Gresham raised three daughters together and enjoyed watching them grow into beautiful young women that would start families of their own. Their home was always filled with love and laughter and countless memories that their daughters still hold dear. They instilled Christian values and led by example. A member of Princeton Baptist Church for eighty years, she spent many years serving in the nursery, teaching Sunbeams, assisting with Vacation Bible School and sharing her love of cooking at Homecoming and Wonderful Wednesday meals.

She became a grandmother and was lovingly called Grandma for most of her life. Grandma was a title that she wore proudly, and her family was her pride and joy. She was an amazing cook, especially known for her outstanding fried chicken and chicken pastry as well as many other delicious meals and cakes. She was the epitome and perfect example of a Southern woman full of hospitality and charm and happiest when her home was filled with family enjoying each other and a wonderful meal together.

Virginia loved to sew, paint and make all kinds of crafts and passed down this love and creativity to her daughters and grandchildren. She spent many summers gardening and canning and she also loved listening to music and dancing. She was the life of the party with her contagious laughter and fun spirit at every family gathering. Most of all, she loved the Lord with all her heart and would always say “What a beautiful day the Lord has made”. She read her Bible daily and could be heard saying prayers for each and every one of her family members.

We will always remember her beautiful brown eyes that sparkled, her loving warm smile that lit up the room and her hugs and kisses that you never left her home without receiving. She was beautiful in every way and everything to us. She will be greatly missed on this side of Heaven until we are blessed to see her again.

In addition to her parents, Virginia was preceded in death by her loving husband, William Gresham Lee; sisters, Jessa Lee, Reva and Beverly; and brothers, Jimmy and Carl; son-in-law, Kenneth Hester; grandson, Adam Woodard; and great grandson, Austin Mark Johnson.
Virginia is survived by daughters, Carolyn Hester, Betty Woodard (Ronnie) and Jenny Starling (Ken) and eight grandchildren, Kelly Johnson (Mark), Jason Hester (Karra Kay), Matt Chestnut (Nichole), Ben Hester (Hope), Stephanie Hough (Adam), Amanda Hobbs (Chris), Derek Hester (Tara), Josh Hester (Amber) and Heather Woodard Weeks (Brian). She is also survived by nineteen great grandchildren, Meredith Wilson (Gavin), Alaina Johnson, Madelyn Hobbs (fiancé, Corbin), Molly Hobbs, Wyatt Chestnut, Ruthie Hester (fiancé, Ian ), Liam Hester, Andrew Hester, Avery Hester, Caden Paugh, Maxton Paugh, Kenslee Hester, Sam Hester, Sawyer Hester, Blake Hough, Abbie Hough, Haven Weeks, Jose Moreno (fiancé, Monica), Jose Aguillon (Kimberly), and three great-great-grandchildren, Reagan Wilson, Waylon Wilson and Sophia Aguillon.

The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to Dr. Hal Woodall at Kenly Medical Associates. He was not only a wonderful and caring Doctor through the years, but a close family friend. Special thanks to Princeton Baptist Church especially the LLL’s, your sweet visits and meals will always be remembered. Lastly, we would like to acknowledge the compassionate caregivers that have taken such good care of her and made it possible for her to reside in the comfort of her own home.

Flowers are welcome or contributions can be made in her memory to Princeton Baptist Church LLL’s.