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

Shirley, also known as Mom, Mema, Essie, and Miss Shirley was the eldest of 9 children. Shirley attended Emmanuel College where she met the man who would later become her husband, John "Randy" Lee.  She completed her education at ECU in NC and began her teaching career in Buxton, NC.  She continued serving her community as a school teacher until 1997 when she retired from Deep Creek Elementary School in Chesapeake VA.  Although she had retired from teaching, her work was not complete.  She continued to teach her family, friends, and everyone she come 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 great-grandson, Oliver Wright, and soon to be second great-grandson, Beckham Wright, as well as many nieces, nephews, and special friends.

A Funeral Service will be held at 2PM Saturday, February 17, 2024 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, NC.

www.wrightfuneralhome.org