Lee Roy Epps "Chief"

“Chief”

Mr. Epps, 79, of Charlotte, NC, passed away peacefully surround by his family on Nov. 6, 2014.

He was born on Oct. 24, 1935, in Person County, NC, to the late Clarence and Sallie Epps.

Mr. Epps owned and operated Epps Printing until his retirement.

He was a member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Parish where he served as an usher. Lee was a coach for the Starclaire Athletic Association; past chapter president of the Huntington’s Disease Society of America; and a past board member of the Carolina Raptor Center. Mr. Epps was chairman of the NC Indian Housing Authority. During his tenure as Chairman, the Indian Housing Authority experienced major growth through the development of Indian Housing projects in the Cohaire, Haliwa-Saponi, and the Waccamaw-Siouan Indian Communities. He also oversaw the administration of newly constructed housing units in Hoke, Cumberland, and Robeson Counties, with funding from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. He was appointed to the NC Indian Housing Authority by Governors Jim Martin and Jim Hunt. Lee was a past chair and longtime board member of the Metrolina Native American Association.

Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Jean Swift Epps; seven children, Edwin Dean Epps (Kim); Ricky Lee Epps; Gerald McKinney Epps (Martha); Kimberly Epps Bird (Daryll); Tammy Epps Little (Charles); Michael Shane Epps; and Jennifer Epps Barbee (Shane); fifteen grandchildren; and eight great grandchildren; and his sister, Kathy Martin.

His family will receive friends on Friday, Nov. 7, 2014, from 6-8p.m. at the McEwen-Pineville Chapel, 10500 Park Road in Charlotte. His funeral mass will be held at 11a.m., Saturday, Nov. 8, at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Parish, 6828 Old Reid Road in Charlotte with Father Mark S. Lawlor as the celebrant. Interment will follow in the Calvary Baptist Church Cemetery in Roxboro, NC, at 4:30 p.m.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Ralph.

Memorials may be directed to the Levine Cancer Center, 1021 Morehead Medical Drive, Charlotte, NC 28204 with a particular emphasis on bladder cancer research or to St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Parish.

Online condolences to the family may offered at www.mcewenpinevillechapel.com.