Lee Rollow Perry

Lee Rollow Perry, beloved wife of John Michael Perry, died at home surrounded by family in the early morning on July 31, 2023 after being diagnosed with acute leukemia a few days before.

Lee was born December 12, 1944 in Nashville, TN to Natalie Miller Rollow and William Ewing Rollow. She attended public schools in Nashville and graduated from Hillsboro High School in 1962. She graduated from Vanderbilt University with a bachelor’s degree in English and History in 1966. She taught school in Birmingham, AL, where she met Mike. After a nearly two-year courtship, they were married in Nashville on June 15, 1968. She and Mike moved to Cherry Point, NC for two years, and then to Chapel Hill, NC, where her son and daughter were born. The family moved to Lynchburg, VA in 1974.

Lee was a loving wife and devoted mother and grandmother. She was also devoted to her church, First Presbyterian, where she served as both Deacon and Elder. She held leadership positions in the church as well as the Presbytery of the Peaks. Lee gave joyfully of her time to all activities her family participated in, and many a school, youth group, swim team, and scout troop event and church breakfast ran more smoothly thanks to her tireless efforts behind the scenes.

After the children left home for college, she enjoyed her job as a bookseller in The Bookstore in Boonsboro Shopping Center. Lee enjoyed life traveling with Mike; working in the garden; needlepointing; playing games such as Sudoku and bridge; reading novels; following college football, basketball, and baseball; and completing jigsaw puzzles with her family. Lee’s greatest joy and gift was in loving, mentoring, and providing counsel to her children and grandchildren.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by her son, John Michael Perry, Jr. and wife Melissa Suydam Perry of Nashville, TN; daughter, Jennifer Perry Clark and husband Larry Edward Clark, Jr. of Lynchburg, VA; grandchildren John Michael Perry III, Charles Wynne Perry, Katherine Miller Perry, Stuart Rollow Perry, all of Nashville, TN, and Hudson Michael Clark of Lynchburg, VA; sisters Sara Rollow Long of Mineola, TX and Ann Ewing Rollow of Bedford, TX; and her many loving cousins, all of whom were devoted.

Lee will be sorely missed by her heartbroken husband, family, and many friends.

A memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church on VES Road in Lynchburg at 11:00am on Tuesday, August 8. In lieu of flowers, donations to Interfaith Outreach in Lynchburg, VA, or the Joy in Learning Program at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Nashville, TN would be greatly appreciated.

Tharp Funeral Home and Crematory is assisting the family.