Lee Clyde Phoenix

Lee Clyde Phoenix, age 96, passed away on July 23, 2015. Mr. Phoenix was born in Yancey County, North Carolina, on September 26, 1918. He graduated from Bald Creek High School, attended Mars Hill College, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Western Carolina University in 1940. He then worked as a Science Teacher at Old Town High School in Winston Salem until 1942 when he enlisted in the US Navy. He served with the Navy for the duration of World War II until his discharge in 1945. After World War II, Mr. Phoenix went back to school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he earned a Master's Degree in Education Administration in 1949. It was also at Chapel Hill where he met the former Anita Wilma Reinkecke from Hackensack, New Jersey, and they were married in 1950. Mr. Phoenix was a lifelong educator. He served as Principal of Ellerbe Union School from 1949 to 1957, Principal of Asheboro High School from 1957 to 1963, as Superintendent of the Cleveland County Schools from 1963 to 1968, as Superintendent of Secondary Schools with the Gaston County Schools from 1968 to 1973 and Superintendent of the Asheboro City Schools from 1973 until he retired in 1983. After retirement from his education career, he decided to enter local politics, and served on the Asheboro City Council from 1983 to 1991 where he was also Mayor Pro Tem. Mr. Phoenix is also a Past President of the Lions Club in Ellerbe, a Past President and Paul Harris Fellow in the Asheboro Rotary Club; a past member of the Board of Directors of the General Greene Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and a past member of the Board of Trustees of Central United Methodist Church in Asheboro where he also was a Certified Lay Speaker. In 1982 Mr. Phoenix was awarded membership in The Order of the Long Leaf Pine, North Carolina's highest honor for a civilian, by then Governor James Hunt. Lee was preceded in death by Anita, his wife of 63 years. He is survived by a son, Tom Phoenix and wife Becky of Greensboro; a daughter, Margaret Phoenix Agee and husband David Agee of Sylva, NC; grandchildren Anne Phoenix and Henry Phoenix of Greensboro, Evan Agee of Big Sky, Montana, and Leanne Agee of Austin, Texas. He is also survived by nieces, Brenda Johnson of Hickory, NC; Sue Anderson Morgan of Medford, New Jersey; and Linda Anderson Solo of Mahwah, New Jersey; and nephews Rick Spann of Bethel, Connecticut and Jeff Spann of Rockaway, New Jersey. The family will receive friends on Sunday, July 26, 2015 from 6:00 until 8:00 PM at Pugh Funeral Home, 437 Sunset Avenue, Asheboro, NC. A memorial service will be held at Central United Methodist Church in Asheboro at 2:00 PM on Monday, July 27, 2015 with Dr. Terry L. Matthews officiating. Burial, with military honors by the Randolph County Honor Guard, will follow in Oaklawn Cemetery, Asheboro, NC. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorial contributions be made to Central United Methodist Church at 300 South Main Street. Asheboro, NC 27203, or to the Lee Phoenix Scholarship Fund for Asheboro High School at ACS Education Foundation, PO Box 1103, Asheboro, NC 27204. Online condolences may be made at www.pughfuneralhome.com.