Joanna Rooke Lee, 82, went to her heavenly home on May 21, 2022. Joanna was born September 14, 1939, in Durham County to the late John Henry and Etta Rooke. She grew up in Greenville, NC. After living in Washington (NC) and raising a family in Rocky Mount and Williamsburg, she returned to Greenville in 2000. She moved to Raleigh to be closer to her children in 2017.
Jo’s request was for no formal service, and no obituary. She would not be surprised to know that her children ignored that request!
Jo’s spitfire personality brought her many good friends and good times. She cherished her time spent at the family cottage at Oriental, and spent many hours sailing across the Neuse River on her Sunfish! She loved to play golf, with her career highlighted by a hole-in-one at Benvenue Country Club. She was also participated in many bridge clubs and tournaments, and enjoyed the time spent at the card table. She also loved church and was an active member at the First United Methodist Church in Rocky Mount and the Jarvis Memorial United Methodist Church in Greenville.
Joanna is survived by her daughter, Denise Lee and her husband Lee Ott of Raleigh; son, Sam N. Lee III and his wife Mindy Lee of Raleigh; two grandsons, Harrison and Coleman Lee of Raleigh; and her sister, Ann Rawles and niece, Deborah Richardson, both of Titusville, FL. Her beloved fur baby, Baxley, also survives her.
A visitation for Joanna will be held Monday, June 6, 2022 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 300 Saint Mary's Street, Raleigh, NC 27605.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Dementia Alliance of North Carolina (https://dementianc.org/), or to Jarvis Memorial United Methodist Church (http://www.jarvis.church/).
