Edgar “Lee” Campbell, Jr., 97 ½, passed away peacefully at The Oaks in Ellijay, Georgia, on Friday, February 21, 2025. Lee was born August 20, 1927, in Newport News, Virginia.
After graduating from Morrison High School (now Warwick High School) in Newport News in 1945, Lee served in the United States Navy. He was stationed for the last nine months of World War ll at the US Naval Bureau of Personnel in Washington, D.C., as a yeoman. After his honorable discharge, Lee went to Atlantic Christian College (now Barton University) on a football scholarship. After college, he worked on building ships at the Newport News Shipyard before beginning a long career of insurance investigating, both in the field and in management with Retail Credit Company and Hooper Holmes.
Lee was preceded in death by his wife, Ginny, with whom he shared a wonderful sixty-six-year marriage. He was also preceded in death by his father, Edgar Lee Campbell, Sr., mother, Marie Snidow Campbell, brother, John Whitaker Campbell, and sister, Greig Campbell Sheldon. Those left to cherish his memory are his daughters: Ginger Campbell Meador (Steve) of Rutherfordton, NC, and Nancy Campbell Elliott (Bill) of Ellijay, Georgia; grandchildren: Stephen Richardson Meador (Terri) of Broadway, NC, John Campbell Meador (Amy) of Rutherfordton, NC, Dr. Rachel Lee Norman (Austin) of Marietta, Ga, Becca Elliott Wilson of Marietta, Ga, and step-grandson William Bradley Elliott (Angie) of Albany, Ga, and great-grandchildren: Campbell Noah Meador, Brantley Paige Meador, Madison Lee Meador, Brock Campbell Wilson, Piper Kinslee Wilson, and step-great-grandchildren Aiden and Brayden Wheeler, and Emma, Liam, and Wren Elliott. He is also survived by two nieces, Martha Ann Willis and Joy Blair, a nephew, Johnny Campbell, and cousins, as well as extended family and close friends Stephanie Dickerson, Betty Dale, and Jay and Ellie Murphy.
Lee, a Christian, was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He loved animals, especially his dog, Jessie. Lee loved to go fishing, work in his yard, play bridge, and find sharks’ teeth walking on the beach at Topsail Island. For his entire life, he loved growing tomatoes and did so through last year in a raised garden at The Oaks. Lee loved having a suntan, and he could be seen sunbathing daily in that same garden. Storytelling was a big part of who he was, and hopefully, many of his stories will continue his legacy for years to come.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, February 27, 2025, at Peninsula Funeral Home in Newport News, Va. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Spindale United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 241, Spindale, NC 28160, The Oaks at Ellijay, 114 Penland Street, Ellijay, GA 30540, or your local humane society.
A special thanks to The Oaks for helping Lee live his final years in happiness and love. He always said that living there was as if he had died and gone to heaven. Thank you to Chrissy Fountain for allowing Lee to come back to The Oaks, after rehab, to live out his final days at home. Thank you also to the following Oaks employees for taking their own time to sit with him at rehab: Stephanie Dickerson, Betty Dale, Niki McClure, Nate Kerrigan, and Kimberly Stafford.
Arrangements are under the care of Peninsula Funeral Home, 11144 Warwick Blvd., Newport News, VA 23601.
1 Comment
Lee sat with my mother, Margaret Johns, at the Oaks during meals. I will always remember him as a sweet, funny, and gentle soul. I know my mother will miss him very much as will I.
And thank you Nancy for ice cream with Nancy on Sundays. My mother loved that.
Prayers for your family.