Mrs. Sarah Elizabeth Bowers Lee, age 98, a resident of Washington, went to be with her loving husband in Heaven, Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018, following a brief illness.

A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19, 2018, at Paul Funeral Home of Washington, officiated by Rev. William I. Gay, Jr. and Rev. Freddie Harris. Burial will follow in Oakdale Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018, at Paul Funeral Home.

Mrs. Lee was born in Suffolk, Virginia, on April 29, 1919, daughter of the late Samuel Owens Bowers, Sr. and the late Lillie Faye Ayers Bowers. She was a graduate of Pactolus High School. On Dec. 12, 1936, she married Noel Lee, Jr., her high school sweetheart, who preceded her in death on Aug. 8, 1994.

Mrs. Lee was a longtime active member of the Pactolus Baptist Church and the Pactolus Home Demonstration Club. Mrs. Lee dedicated her life to her family and community by being active as a homemaker, friend, and excellent cook (often asked, “Where is my Sara Lee cake?”). She was a beautiful example of a virtuous and selfless woman.

Survivors include three sons: Edward E. Lee (Frances), of Washington, James Richard Lee (Penny), of North Little Rock, Arkansas, and Noel Lee, III (Cassie), of Washington; a daughter, Margaret L. Joyner (Oliver) of Virginia Beach, Virginia; nine grandchildren, Connie McManus (Craig), Tammy Tilley (Mike), Jackie Woolard (Allen), Rick Lee, Jonathan Lee (Celeste), Sarah Joyner-Viol (Anthony), Key Joyner, Kim Reed (Davis), Amy Hudson (Joey); and 16 great-grandchildren, Corey and Lauren McManus, Emma and Cameron Tilley, Alexis and Parker Woolard, Trey and Megan Hudson, Ephraim, Levi and Yancey Lee, Harrison, Thomas, Jon Embry Lee, Liam Joyner-Viol and Ethan Joyner. Mrs. Lee was predeceased, along with her parents and husband, by two brothers, Sam Bowers, Jr. and Robert Bowers, and three sisters, Marie Tyer, Isabel Dixon and Peggy Langley.

Memorial contributions may be made to Pactolus Baptist Church, 5980 U.S. Highway 264 East, Greenville, NC 27834.