Lee Griffin

He was surrounded by his son, Brant, and close family friend, Kayli. Lee spent his final days with them sharing laughs and reminiscing about good times.

Lee was born on March 21, 1931, in Star, North Carolina, to Dr. Harvey Lee Griffin Sr. and Alice Finch Jackson. He grew up in Asheboro, NC, and attended Georgia Military Academy, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and earned his medical degree from Duke University Medical School.

In 1962, Lee married his beautiful wife, Betty Ann, while completing his residency in pathology at Duke University Hospital. They made their first home together in Dayton, Ohio, where Lee served as a pathologist at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Hospital. Their journey later took them to Richmond, Virginia, and eventually to Petersburg, where Lee worked as a pathologist at Petersburg General Hospital. Lee and Betty Ann raised two children, a son Brant and daughter Laura Lee.

Lee enjoyed traveling with Betty Ann and his family. They frequently took trips to Europe and Lee developed an interest in Germany, where he attended the Goethe Institute to study German on multiple occasions. In retirement, Lee and Brant also enjoyed annual father and son trips, a tradition spanning nearly 20 years, to Europe, Mexico, and numerous adventures across the U.S.

Lee had a deep intellectual curiosity and passion for history, languages, and other cultures. Many of his journeys left lasting impressions that he would reflect on fondly with family and friends. Working at a celebrated oceanfront resort in Santa Monica during a college break, horseback riding through Canyon de Chelle, Arizona while serving as a doctor on the Navajo Reservation, living in Mexico for six months studying Spanish before enlisting in the Air Force and enjoying the simple spectacle of seeing millions of migrating monarch butterflies. For Lee it was never about the destination, but rather the experience and lessons learned on the journey.

After retiring in 1993, Lee and Betty Ann made their home in the Queens Lake neighborhood of Williamsburg, Virginia, where they enjoyed hosting gatherings for their cherished group of friends.

Lee was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Ann in 2020, and daughter, Laura Lee in 2017. Lee is survived by his son, Brant, who resides in Las Vegas. Lee will be greatly missed, but his legacy will endure in the hearts of those who knew him.