Elizabeth Etheridge Lee

Elizabeth Lee, age 65, passed away peacefully on March 17, 2026. She was born on March 3, 1961, in Portsmouth, Virginia, to Ernest Lee Etheridge and Edna Dowdy Etheridge. Elizabeth lived a life defined by dedication, service, and a deep love for her family and community.

She is survived by her beloved husband, Richard Matthew Lee; her son, Robert “Matthew” Lee; her daughter, Claire Marie Lee; her sister, Julia Etheridge Ebron; and many cherished nieces and nephews.

Elizabeth graduated from Norfolk Collegiate School in 1979 and went on to attend the University of Virginia, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Government and Spanish in 1983. Her passion for public service and lifelong learning led her to further her education with a Master of Public Administration from George Mason University in 1996 and, later, a Master of Science in Library and Information Science from Drexel University in 2018.

Following her undergraduate studies, Elizabeth began a distinguished 34-year career as a federal employee with the Central Intelligence Agency, serving from 1983 until her retirement in 2017. Her work reflected a deep commitment to her country and a steadfast sense of integrity and responsibility. After retiring, she continued her professional contributions at MITRE until 2020, when she retired again during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Outside of her career, Elizabeth was deeply engaged in her community. She was a faithful member and volunteer at St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church and dedicated her time to anti-human trafficking efforts through organizations such as Anti-Trafficking International and Vox Invictus. She was passionate about supporting causes that uplifted and protected others.

Elizabeth’s greatest joy was her family. She married her husband, Richard Matthew Lee, in May of 1995, and together they built a loving home and raised their two children. She shared a close bond with her sister, Julia, and took great pride in being “Auntie” to her niece and nephew, James and Victoria Ebron. She was a devoted wife, a loving mother, and a constant source of strength, encouragement, and care.

Elizabeth spent most of her life in Virginia before relocating to Surprise, Arizona, in March 2025, where she embraced a new chapter surrounded by warmth and sunshine.

She will be remembered for her kindness, intelligence, quiet strength, and unwavering devotion to her family, her work, and her community. Her legacy lives on in the many lives she touched and in the love she so freely gave.

Elizabeth will be deeply missed and forever cherished.

A memorial viewing will be held on March 27, 2026, at Surprise Funeral Home from 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. A celebration of life will take place at a later date in Manteo, North Carolina.

For those unable to attend, the family invites you to honor Elizabeth’s memory by making a donation to an anti-human trafficking organization, a cause that was deeply important to her and one she supported tirelessly throughout her life. More information about Vox Invictus can be found at: https://voxinvictus.com/support