WICOMICO CHURCH—Reverend Lee Goodwin Scripture Jr., 87, of Wicomico Church died on November 8, 2022.
Lee received his bachelor’s in general agriculture from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1957 where he was also a member of the swim team and coxswain of the rowing team.
A Purple Heart recipient, he served his country for 19 years as an Army captain through both the Korean and Vietnam wars, and afterwards in the Army Reserves.
In 1983, he graduated from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina, with both the Master of Divinity and Master of Christian Education, and recognition for his service as student council president. He immediately accepted pastorship at Wicomico Baptist Church in Remo and in September 1983 moved to Northumberland County where he continued to minister to his beloved congregation and community until his passing.
Lee loved people, learning and sports. Therefore, he was a huge supporter of both Northumberland County schools and their athletic programs. He had been the sportswriter for the Caroline Progress since 1969, and naturally transitioned to sportswriting for the Northumberland Echo in 1983 when he arrived in the Northern Neck. He promoted and supported all venues of Northumberland athletics, but his greatest devotion was always the NHS football team, faithfully attending all but one game in the 39 years since his arrival, and submitting his final article just 24 hours before his death.
His belief in the benefits of education for all led him to serve on the Northumberland County School Board for 25 years including multiple terms as chairman. During this tenure he worked diligently to improve education in Northumberland with his “students first” mantra and was finally able to promote and accomplish the erection of the new Northumberland Middle/High School campus. He was also highly instrumental in the establishment of the Chesapeake Bay Governor’s School (CBGS) in conjunction with Rappahannock Community College, working to ensure challenging academic opportunities for Northumberland High School students. He later served as the CBGS chairman of the board.
Employed by the U.S. Postal Service, he was assigned duty at a variety of locations and finally settled as postmaster of Morattico, a community he thoroughly loved and the post from which he eventually retired. His lifelong love of learning continued into his later years and he fulfilled his personal desire to become both a Master Gardener and Master Naturalist. He leaves a legacy of service and love for the Lord, his congregation, country, community and family.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Sandra Coghill Scripture; his sister, Frances Byrd Scripture Whitney; and his children, Susan and Tim Staples, Karen and Bill Hebert, Wanda and Michael Shanahan, Patricia Meany Scripture, Lee Scripture III and Melanie Stanley, Janet Harrison and Chuck Pall, Stephen and Deborah Scripture, and Allen and Stephanie Cooke. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Brandy Hebert, Jared and Kelly Scripture, Joseph and James Scripture, Daniel Harrison and Samantha St. John, Philip and Laura Harrison, Michael and Regan Shanahan, Lee G. Scripture IV, and Gabriel, Grace and Aiden Cooke; as well as great-grandchildren, Noah, June and Emma Scripture, and Liam Harrison.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Lee Goodwin Scripture Sr. and Eugenia Elizabeth Coghill Scripture of Arlington.
Family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, November 17, at Currie Funeral Home, Kilmarnock. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, November 19, at the funeral home. Interment will follow at Wicomico Baptist Church Cemetery, Remo.
The family requests that you honor him by including bright colors in your attire, as he would have desired.
Memorial contributions may be made to Wicomico Baptist Church, P.O. Box 171, Wicomico Church, VA 22579.
