By Staff
WILLIAMSTON — Stephen Craig Lilley of Williamston, N.C., died Saturday, March 29, 2008, at St. Luke’s Hospital, Jacksonville, Florida. He was 54 years old.
Surviving him are his wife of 28 years, Mary Peele Lilley; daughter, Amanda, 23; son, Stephen, 20, all of Williamston; sister, Jane Lilley Cavenaugh and husband Jim of Raleigh, NC; brother, J. Elmo (Butch) Lilley, Jr. and wife Becki of Williamston; brother, William C. Lilley and wife Cindy of Williamston, and sixteen nieces and nephews.
Steve was born in Williamston on March 20, 1954 to J. Elmo and Myrtle Mae Lilley, both deceased. He was active in Macedonia Christian Church and as a youth in the local Boy Scouts of America troop, achieving the rank of Eagle Scout prior to high school graduation. After graduating from Williamston High School in 1972, he attended North Carolina State University, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Agronomy. While there, he was a member of Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity.
Steve returned to Williamston in 1976 to join his father and brothers in their local agri-business operations that included New Dixie Warehouse, Roanoke Peanut Company, and Lilley Brothers Farms, Inc. In 1991, he worked with others to start Roanoke Tar Cotton, Inc. in Everetts, NC. He served as president of this corporation for most of its history. He was a member of the North Carolina Agricultural Foundation, Inc. and served as a director of Southern Cotton Growers and as an alternate director for the National Cotton Council. Steve enjoyed spending time with his family on the Pamlico River, fishing, hunting, and playing golf and bridge. His quick wit, generosity, and infectious spirit will be missed by all who knew him.
The family will receive visitors at Macedonia Christian Church, U.S. Highway 17 south of Williamston on Tuesday night, April 1 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. The funeral will be held Wednesday, April 2 at 2 p.m. at Macedonia, with interment immediately following at Woodlawn Cemetery in Williamston.
A loving father, Steve was very proud of his children, who are actively involved in the Caldwell Fellows Program and Campus Christian Fellowship at NCSU. Memorials may be sent to Caldwell Fellowship, NC State University, Campus Box 7121, Raleigh, NC 27695 or NCSU Campus Christian Fellowship, P.O. Box 5182, Raleigh, NC 27650.
The family expresses gratitude to all who supported him through his illness.
Paid Obituary