Ways of Life: He built buildings and much more

You’re reading Ways of Life, a weekly obituaries newsletter from The Charlotte Ledger honoring our friends, neighbors and family members who made an impact on Charlotte through the ways they lived their lives.

by Raymond C. Jones

As an architect, Don Lee was known as an award-winning professional who designed some of the region’s best-known buildings. To friends and family, however, he is remembered most fondly for building relationships with other people.

Donald Ross Lee, who died last month at 88, had a hand in designing a broad assortment of buildings that have served nearly every type of function. These include Discovery Place & IMAX Dome Theatre, The Dunhill Hotel, Davidson’s town hall and The Mint Museum’s Craft + Design facility.

He also did architectural work for academic institutions such as Appalachian State, East Carolina, UNC Chapel Hill and his beloved alma mater, N.C. State.

Lee’s daughter-in-law, Lani Lee, went to Chapel Hill, which led to years of good-natured ribbing over sports.

“Every time N.C. State defeated Chapel Hill in a big game,” Lani remembers, “I would get a one-word text that said, simply, ‘Sorry.’

“My three-word response to him was always the same: ‘No you’re not!’”

Lani is quick to note, however, that her late father-in-law’s interest in sports was just one aspect of his multi-faceted persona. Don Lee was also a gifted artist, musician, potter and woodworker, as well as a dedicated golfer.

In professional settings, Lani said, he was well-known for helping advance the careers of his colleagues. In fact, she said, if there was a unifying theme among the comments posted online after his death, it was his impact as a mentor.

Rachel Guillot, a one-time colleague at the CPL architectural firm, said there is an industry expression to describe people like Don Lee.

“Those who can do virtually everything well,” she said, “are called ‘Renaissance architects.’ That’s what Don was. He was somebody who could apply what he knew to almost any type of project.

“He also loved sharing his insights with others. He singled out those who he felt could benefit most from his time and attention, and then he did everything possible to enhance their professional development.”

Guillot also remembers Lee for being a great storyteller. “The anecdotes he shared in the workplace,” she said, “always had an educational component. The stories might meander all over the place, but they always ended up with a message that stuck.”

Lee’s main passion outside of work was golf. He played regularly until his death, and he was a founding member, owner and design consultant for the Warrior Golf Club in Landis.

“Don Lee stories” abound among his many former golfing partners.

Bob Holder, one of Lee’s golf buddies, remembers his friend not only for being athletic, but for being feisty. Lee had told him the story of how, as a youngster, he’d once forcefully talked back to his father and then got forcefully tossed out a nearby window.

“Fortunately, it was a ground-floor window,” Holder said, “but I imagine Don acquired some of his fighting spirit from those types of experiences.”

Another golfing friend, Kathy McCormick, played golf with Lee several days a week for half a dozen years. She rarely encountered Lee’s wife, Jane, in person. But she recalls that Jane was more self-effacing.

“We thought it was great when Jane ventured onto the course one day and rode along in Don’s electric cart to keep us company,” McCormick said.

But Don tried to negotiate a bank that was way too steep and ended up dumping Jane out on the grass. Jane didn’t say a word. “She got up, walked back to the clubhouse alone, and we never saw her again.”

This was not the only incident, however, that landed Don in the doghouse. Holder still remembers the tension after he gave Jane a Weedwhacker on a landmark birthday.

“You can take the architect away from a computer-assisted design machine,” Holder said, “but you can’t take away the architect’s devotion to practicality.”

Another remarkable aspect of Lee’s personality, Guillot said, was Lee’s ability to be quick on his feet.

She recalls a time when Lee was presenting to leaders of Shalom Park. “One of them asked Don, respectfully, how a Presbyterian could possibly understand the religious history and cultural sensitivities that needed to be kept in mind while designing a Jewish temple.

“Don didn’t duck the question,” she said. “Without hesitating, he declared that any worthy professional would take pride in exploring every possible detail or nuance that might impact such a sensitive project.

“By the time Don finished his ecumenical pep talk,” she said, “I think the folks in charge were looking around for a pen to sign the contract.”

While doing projects at Shalom Park, Lee became good friends with Leon Levine and his brother Alvin. As a result of those associations, he ended up working on the designs for Leon’s Family Dollar headquarters and Alvin’s Pic ‘n Pay headquarters.

“Dad was well-connected among Charlotte’s movers and shakers,” said Marcus Lee, one of Lee’s three surviving children. “But to us, he was simply a great dad.”

Marcus recalled how his family made annual trips in the family station wagon to visit some of the nation’s most iconic tourist attractions.

“One year, when I was just a kid, we drove south to Florida,” he said. “We made our way through St. Augustine, Orlando and the Everglades, and then moved on to Key West.

“At that age, I loved anything military, so the highlight for me was a tour of the Castillo de St. Marcos (Castle of Saint Mark) in St. Augustine. It’s a perfectly preserved 17th-century Spanish fortress that’s now a national monument. I bought a toy musket in the gift shop, which instantly became my most prized possession.

“I loved to fish also, so when we got to Key West, I was thrilled to have a room with a balcony sitting directly over the water. I rigged up my musket as a stand-in fishing pole and was having the time of my life until I dropped it.”

Marcus’s dad rushed to the rescue.

“The Gulf waters were crystal clear,” Marcus said, “so Dad didn’t hesitate to dive in after my gun. He even braved the cluster of prehistoric-looking horseshoe crabs that had already gathered around my gun to claim it.”

Marcus said he occasionally hears someone described as a person “who never met a stranger.” 

In his dad’s case, he said, that phrase wouldn’t be just a cliché. “He was hands-on when it came to meeting people. And it didn’t matter whether he was dealing with Leon Levine or Joe the plumber, he was completely comfortable with face-to-face contact.”

Asked what he will miss most about his father, Marcus said he thought about that a lot while preparing his dad’s eulogy.

“Among those who knew him professionally,” he said, “Dad was best known as a great builder of buildings. But those of us who knew him more intimately will remember him as a great builder of friendships.”

Ray Jones is a freelance writer who specializes in obituaries and also coaches high school seniors on their college application essays. Reach him at [email protected].

Jane Wellington “Welly” Baker, 82, of Charlotte graduated from Myers Park High School and attended Queens College. Her banking career began with a position as a teller and customer service leader for Wachovia Bank in Charlotte. She also worked for BB&T and First Charlotte Bank, where she served as a vice president and branch manager. Upon leaving banking, Welly represented Western Associates in marketing and sales. She was an early leader in promoting women's business groups in the Charlotte area.

David Hunter Burns, 89, didn’t move to Charlotte until he was 80, but that did not deter him from getting involved at Southminster and throughout the greater Charlotte community. At Southminster, he taught weekly history classes, helped the Life Enrichment team with onboarding new employees and led exercise classes with a new call-and-response sound-off he made up every week. In the greater community, he tutored students at The Relatives and supported FOR Students, a suicide prevention organization.

Dr. Benjamin Augustus Dias, 89, of Charlotte was a proud son of Jamaica who made his home in Charlotte. He earned his doctorate and served at Johnson C. Smith University, where he retired after serving as dean of the chemistry department. His commitment extended beyond the university classroom to students in Jamaica, particularly those in the chemistry department at MICO University College in Kingston, where he helped create opportunities for students to continue their education despite their financial situation.

Jean Frances Jackson Meachem Frye, 91, of Charlotte began working at UNC Charlotte in 1968. While employed at UNCC, she finished her bachelor’s degree and completed a master’s degree in English. She worked in the library for 13 years and moved into admissions in 1981, where she spent 15 years and retired as associate director. In retirement, Jean served as president of the African American Genealogy Interest Group for four years. She also served on the board of Historic Rosedale Plantation, volunteered in the Carolina Room of the public library and at Allegra Westbrook Regional Public Library. Jean finally found her church home at Memorial United Presbyterian Church.

Robert “Bob” Pattison Greene, 90, became a special agent for the Internal Revenue Service and worked with the Charlotte office until his mandatory retirement at 55 in 1990. Outside of work, Bob liked sports. He loved golf and frequently played handball at the YMCA, winning several trophies. Bob enjoyed watching golf, football and college basketball on television as well. He also enjoyed traveling with family to spots like Savannah, Ga., and the North Carolina mountains.

JoAnn Guzman, 71, of Charlotte was a graduate of Garinger High School. She was an exceptional tango dancer, her grace and rhythm captivating all who watched her glide across the dance floor. She was also a gifted seamstress. JoAnn dedicated many years to working alongside a designer, crafting exquisite window treatments, bedding and pillows. Her talents did not go unnoticed, and she took great pride in her work. 

Frank Erwin Hawfield, 77, of Charlotte grew up in Charlotte and graduated from Myers Park High School. There he served as an assistant manager of both the football and baseball teams and received varsity letters in both sports. After high school, he graduated from Central Piedmont Community College with an associate’s degree in business administration. Frank joined the warehouse team at Eckerd’s where he worked for more than 10 years. He was a member of Cavalry Church in Charlotte.

Patricia Morris Hood, 90, of Charlotte attended Eastover Elementary School, Alexander Graham Junior High School and graduated in 1954 from Myers Park High School. She was a long-standing member of Christ Episcopal Church, a member of the Charlotte Assembly, The Ivy League Garden Club and the Best Friends bridge club. 

Garry Phillip Johnson, 69, of Charlotte was a graduate of Garinger High School, Class of 1975. It was during these formative years that he nurtured his love for music, a love that would accompany him throughout his life. A self-taught musician, Garry mastered the piano and guitar, crafting melodies that resonated with the country and classic rock genres he adored.

Gaither Calvin "Cal" Lassiter Jr., 90, of Charlotte came to work in Charlotte at Atlas Supply before splitting off with friends to form Heat Transfer Sales, a manufacturers' rep firm for commercial heating and air conditioning. Consistent with his engineering nature, Cal was a man of routine. He rotated his tires every 5,000 miles, ate an egg every Sunday morning and finished every weekend with calls to friends around the country, taking advantage of half-price long distance on Sunday evenings.

Robert Dennis Makepeace, 80, of Charlotte retired after a 40-year career, during which he served as president of Timcorp, Optima Tobacco Corp. and KneX Worldwide in Charlotte. Before that, he was an executive at Celanese Corp. He was a member of Forest Hill Church in Charlotte. Dennis traveled the world for both business and pleasure. He loved the game of golf and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

James Edward Melton Jr., 79, moved to Charlotte in 1968, where he was employed by Thurston Motor Lines. He then went on to work for Yellow Freight Trucking as a freight mechanic, retiring after 25 years of service. He loved hunting and fishing, and would often go on deep-sea fishing adventures with friends and family. When he hunted, he would often prepare his catch of deer, squirrel, possum and rabbit. He was an amazing cook, delighting his family with frying fish in the backyard in a black wash pot or creating a rabbit stew.

James Wilson Mock, 97, of Oak Island began a career in sales that took him throughout the country. He eventually returned to Charlotte and worked for DuPont. He grew up in Dilworth beside Latta Park. He graduated from Central High School and continued his education at Charlotte College, now UNC Charlotte. Outside of work, golf at Sharon Golf Club, airplanes and the coast were his greatest passions.

Madeline Armstrong Reynolds, 89, of Charlotte was a third-grade teacher at Providence Day School, where she spent 22 years inspiring and nurturing generations of students. Retirement did not end her passion for learning and teaching. She later attended UNC Charlotte, earning a master's degree in education. Her love of education continued to shine as she volunteered for several years at Lansdowne Elementary School.

Amelia Jolyn Roberts, 82, of Charlotte was a seamstress and tailor who could create beauty with her hands. Her talent became her profession, and Amelia spent 44 years working in the alterations departments at Ivey’s and Belk. She retired from Belk in 2008. Amelia found a church home at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, where she was a faithful member for more than 60 years. She was an avid baker, and her lemon pound cakes — with or without icing — were among her specialties.

Lois Schneider, 82, of Charlotte studied accounting at UNC Charlotte and worked for many years at L&S Children’s Fashion. She closed out her career at The Mint Museum of Charlotte. Lois was an active member of Temple Israel throughout her many years in Charlotte.

Julius Jennings "Jay" Wade III, 69, of Davidson tried every sport with a ball and found his talent at Myers Park High School in football, where he led the team as a standout middle linebacker. His love of sports called him to later coach youth soccer, baseball and basketball. Jay began his career in Charlotte in 1979 with one of Charlotte's leading property and casualty insurance agencies before founding his own insurance agency in Davidson in 1992. Wrightsville Beach was a favorite of his, and he could smell and taste the salt before he could see the water.

Thomas Whitestone, 62, joined the Charlotte 49ers in 1987 and spent 37 years chronicling the stories of Charlotte athletics and those who made it special. When he retired in 2024, Tom had spent nearly half of his life serving the university during its 80-year history. His dedication was recognized in 2020 when Charlotte's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee honored him with its Lifetime Achievement Award. Tom was instrumental in creating the Charlotte Athletics Hall of Fame in 2020, with the first class inducted in 2022. Earlier this month, Tom learned that he would be inducted into the hall during the 2026-’27 basketball season.

Ways of Life condensed obituaries are compiled by Darrell Horwitz.