Sam Newman Lee, Jr.

Sam Newman Lee, Jr.
October 4, 1938 – January 27, 2025

Sam Newman Lee, Jr., 86, of Zebulon, NC, passed away January 27, 2025, in Raleigh, NC. He was born October 4, 1938, in Washington, NC, to the late Sam Newman Lee and Myrtle Arabella Elks.

Sam grew up in Washington, NC, later moving to Rocky Mount, NC; Williamsburg, VA; and Oak Island, NC before landing in Zebulon. He worked for Pioneer Hybrid Seed Company for over 30 years, finding joy in his work while advocating for the farming community. Sam was President of the NC Seedsman in 1990-1991 and later the President of the NC Agribusiness County in 2000-2002. He was awarded the NC Seedsman of the Year in 1992; SC Seedsman of the Year in 1994; NC Honorary Seedsman of the Year in 2013; and later earned a NC FFA Associate Honorary FFA Degree and became a NC State Honorary Alumnus 10/1995.

Sam was a proud veteran, serving in the United States Air Forces from 1957-1961. He was an avid and passionate NC State fan and enjoyed hunting and dancing. Sam could keep anyone within hearing distance fully entertained, with his sharp sense of humor and story-telling abilities.

He is survived by his loving wife of 25 years, Pamela “Pam” Smith Lee, of Zebulon, NC; daughter, Denise Lee (Lee); son, Sam N. Lee, III (Mindy), of Raleigh, NC; stepdaughters, Amanda Snyder (Bryan), of Concord, and Adrienne Patterson (Phillip), of Greensboro; and grandchildren, Harrison Lee, Coleman Lee, Caroline Snyder, and Kyle Snyder.

A visitation will be held at 11:00 am, Friday, January 31, 2025, at Strickland Funeral Home & Crematory, 211 W. Third Street, Wendell, NC, 27591. A funeral service will follow at 12:00 pm. Rev. Trent Jones will officiate. Interment will take place at 11:00 am, Saturday, February 1, 2025, at Carolina Memorial Park, 601 Mt. Olivet Rd., Kannapolis, NC 28083.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Tunnels to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Blvd., Staten Island, NY 10306 (www.t2t.org), or to the Wounded Warriors Project, 4899 Belfort Road, Ste 300, Jacksonville, FL 32256 (www.woundedwarriorproject.org).

Arrangements are with Strickland Funeral Home & Crematory. www.stricklandfuneral.com.