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June Carolyn Chalmers Lee

For June Carolyn Chalmers Lee of Kings Mountain, NC, worshipping the Lord every day and going to church on Sundays were at the top of her "Favorite Things" list. On the Sunday morning of November 27, 2022, June passed peacefully from this earth and awoke to worship in the presence of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

June, age 87, was born the fourth child of J.T. and Carrie Chalmers on July 6, 1935, in Ware Shoals, SC, at the home of her maternal grandmother. She grew up in Anderson, SC, and would often recount to her children and grandchildren her fond childhood memories of being part of the "Mill Village" of Orr-Lyons Mill. Rumor has it that June Avenue, one of the streets surrounding the mill, was named after June Chalmers! June's love for her daddy was always apparent, and his love for people spilled over into her life. During her high school years, June played basketball for the textile league and was a huge baseball fan, able to spout off players' stats - especially those of the Brooklyn Dodgers - in a split second. Taking her sports interests with her to Limestone College, June filled her years there with many athletic successes in basketball, field hockey, archery, and other sports alongside a major in biology and leadership positions in several student organizations. After graduation, June worked as a medical technologist. It was during this time that a friend introduced her to Joe Lee, whom she would marry the next year.

After birthing two of her four children and working as a phlebotomist to put her husband through medical school, June put down the needle and syringe and became a "professional volunteer" in her beloved Kings Mountain, NC. Always an advocate for public education, she served as room mother and PTA president at North Elementary and later ran for Kings Mountain School Board, serving a total of 12 years. Her other professional volunteer gigs included serving with the Hospital Auxiliary, the Board of KM Ministerial Association, P.E.O., and Hospice. In her more than 55 years as a member of First Baptist Church of Kings Mountain, June served as Sunday School teacher, Sunday School Director, VBS teacher, Bible study leader, and Pastor Search Committee Chair (twice!). "I've been blessed, and I'd like to return that," she said. "That's what life is all about - helping others."

While generosity was June's way of life, cooking was her passion. In cooking a chuck roast for her family, making coconut cakes at Christmas, or baking dozens of chocolate chip cookies for first responders, her love for others and her joy of life shone through. Her joyful smile and (sometimes mischievous) giggle will always be remembered. As one of her nieces expressed, "Her smiles always had a little more love and laughter behind them. And something in her eyes made me think [she was saying], 'I'm fun to be with.'" June wasn't hesitant to tell you the source of her joy - her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She left behind a well-read and note-filled Bible, and her greatest legacy is that she left shoulders of faith for her children and grandchildren to stand on.

June was predeceased by her husband, Dr. Joseph Lee III; her parents; two sisters; and one brother. She is survived by her children: Nancy Lee Bryant (Michael) of Gibsonville, NC, Stephen Lee (Bonnie) of Warm Springs, VA, Michael Lee (Lori) of Clermont, FL, and Suzanne Lee Orr (Ron) of Murfreesboro, TN; twelve grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and two brothers, Joe Chalmers (Pat) and David Chalmers (Brenda).

The family would like to thank Brookdale Burlington Memory Care and AuthoraCare Collective Hospice for their excellent care and love for June during her time in Burlington. Also, we wish to express a very heartfelt thanks to one very special friend of June's (you know who you are!) whose care and laughter allowed her to remain in her home for an extended time.

A service to celebrate June's life will be held on Monday, December 5, at 11:00 am at First Baptist Church, 605 West King Street, Kings Mountain, NC, by Brother Chip Sloan with the burial to follow at Mountain Rest Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 2-4 pm on Sunday, December 4, in the Stained Glass Room of First Baptist Church, Kings Mountain.

INTERMENT: Mountain Rest Cemetery, Kings Mountain, NC

Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Kings Mountain (605 West King Street, Kings Mountain, NC 28086) or AuthoraCare Collective Hospice (914 Chapel Hill Road, Burlington, NC 27215).

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