Thursday, March 5, 2020 Lee Douglas Flowe, age 90, left this earth and walked…in perfect health…into the presence of his Lord and Savior. Lee left behind four children & their spouses: Paulette and Dale Whisenant, Sibyl and Henry Moore, Emily and J.B. English, George and Kathy Flowe…Grandchildren & Spouses: Donnie and Ashleigh Flowe, Jacki and Chad Denton, Michele and Mark Ferguson, Sommer and Matt Wilson, Matthew and Elizabeth Whisenant, Annie and Nathan Barnette, Katie and Chris Ryan, David and Jessica English…Great Grandchildren: Jason Moore, Jr., Trendell Moore, Brinly Denton, Bryson Wilson, Ella Wilson, Owen Ferguson, Brady Ferguson, Tillman Whisenant, Deacon Whisenant, Sterling Whisenant, Taylor Ryan, Aubrey Ryan, Josiah Barnette, Lily Barnette, Emma Barnette…Great Great-Grandson: Matthew Paul Moore…Sisters: Lucille Furr & Barbara Price…Sisters-in Law: Gypsy Flowe, Lucia Lane & Betty McRorie…Sister-in Law and Brother-in-law Ann and Carl Whiddon and a host of beloved Great and Great-Great nieces and nephews. Lee was pre-deceased by his sweetheart of 70 years: Holley Carroll McRorie Flowe, Eldest Grandson: Jason Moore, Sr. ...Parents: Olin Lee & Mamie Tweed Flowe…Father and Mother-in-law: Dallas Clifford and Pearl Berry McRorie….Brother: Olin T. Flowe…Brother-in-laws: Eddie Price, Bill Furr, Eugene McRorie & Larry Lane…Brother-in-laws & Spouses: Clifford and Mary McRorie & Ray and Mary Ellen Benton.
Lee was born and raised in Mint Hill, N.C. and was a graduate of Bain High School. After graduating from Wingate College, he went straight to work for Southern Bell which later became Bell South. After 35 years of service, Lee retired from Southern Bell (Before it became AT&T). While working for Southern Bell, Lee served several years as President of the Communication Workers of America Union. He was still an active Life Member of the AT&T Pioneers when he passed away. After retiring from Bell South, Lee worked at Albemarle Road Presbyterian church for several years maintaining their facility. Then he and his sweetheart Carroll began to travel extensively doing mission work with N.C. Campers on Missions.
Lee was an active member of the church he grew up in…Philadelphia Presbyterian Church of Mint Hill…when he passed away. When Lee married his sweetheart Holley Carroll Flowe, he joined Allen Street Baptist Church (which became Shamrock Drive Baptist Church when it relocated). Together they served as Training Union Leaders for many years. Dad was an active member of the Shamrock Drive Baptist Men’s Group helping with the Bar-be-que Fund Raisers and many other projects. In 2007 Lee and wife Carroll joined Hickory Grove where they supported the church and were active members of the Encouragers Sunday School Class. After Carroll’s passing Lee moved his membership…in October of 2019… back to his home church of Philadelphia Presbyterian Church. Lee loved Hickory Grove, it’s church staff and his Encouragers Sunday School Class. Pastor John Harrill and Arnold Kessler continued to visit him faithfully several times a week each time he went into the hospital and prayed for him. But even with the love he had and felt at Hickory Grove…Lee felt the calling to go back to his home church where his sister Lucille Furr and sister-in-law Gypsy Flowe still attended. At Philadelphia he was welcomed home and the staff there were very caring…visiting him in the hospital and praying with him.
Lee had a tremendous heart for Missions. He went on several Mission Trips to Germany helping with the renovation of churches there. Lee and wife Carroll joined N.C. Campers on Missions in 1989 and served their Lord as Directors over the N.C. Campers on Missions State Fair Ministry until 2008…then continuing to support this ministry in any way needed. Campers on Missions took them on the road in service of their Lord as far north as Alaska…west as Nevada, east as Maine and south as Florida and Louisiana. Their travels in mission work found them building and renovating churches and pastor’s homes and helping with back-yard Bible Schools. Lee and Carroll helped build a full-service campground at the Oneida Baptist Institute in Oneida, Kentucky so that large camping groups could come and do volunteer work at the Institute for Children. Lee and Carroll served as volunteers at Camp Caraway in the capacity of Host and Janitorial & Grounds workers and helped upgrade the camping sites there. They worked at Broyhill Children’s Home in Clyde, N.C. and Mills Home for Children and many other institutes and Children’s Homes. They traveled to Washington, Vermont to cook 3 meals a day for the 30 volunteers of the Agape Ministry Dental Team sponsored by the Mecklenburg Baptist Nursing Fellowship.
Lee had a huge servant’s heart. He mowed his elderly neighbors’ yards when he lived in town on Elkwood Circle. If they needed anything fixed, moved or toted…they called Lee and he helped them with a joyful heart. His friendship knew no color. When the neighborhood began to change, it only served to give him more chances to witness to the love of his Lord by helping others. It was nothing for him to get up at 4am to go pick up his neighbor from her work across town because she missed the bus…or just because it was raining, and he didn’t want her walking home in the bad weather. When they moved to the farm located about 25 miles from their Elkwood home he continued to help his neighbor get to and from work when she needed it. He refused take any money for his service...though he never turned down a good pie!
Lee fought the good fight. Every day he fought to stay with us though he was always at peace and looking forward to being with his Heavenly Father. He was a quiet man in his faith showing others the way by example. He had a huge servant’s heart, loving and enjoying helping anyone in need. If you needed any help at all, you could call on Lee Douglas Flowe and he would move mountains to try to help. When he left this earth, we know he was smiling as he walked through the Gates of Heaven into the Presence of his Lord and Savior…ready and willing to be of any Heavenly service needed.
A visitation will be held in the main sanctuary of Hickory Grove Baptist Church from 12:15pm until 1:15pm on Saturday, May19, 2020 with a Celebration of Life Service following at 1:30pm. (Hickory Grove Baptist Church, 7200 East WT Harris Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28215).
In lieu of flowers, the family would deeply appreciate donations to be made in his memory to one of the following ministries: N.C. Campers on Missions - Mail donations to the COM Treasurer: Dell Wolfe, 3668 Circle Court, Trinity, NC 27370 (designating it for the “State Fair Ministry” in the memo line) and/or to Charlotte Christian College and Theological Seminary – Mail donations to 7520 East Independence Blvd. Charlotte, N.C. 28227 (Please put “Lee and Carroll Flowe Scholarship” in the memo line).
Condolences may be offered online at www.mcewenminthillchapel.com.
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