Mrs. Judy Lee Graves LeCroy

Mrs. Judy Lee Graves LeCroy passed away on Saturday, January 25, 2025, at Grace Ridge Retirement Community in Morganton, North Carolina, where she had resided for the past three years. She fought a valiant fight against Parkinson’s Disease.

Judy was born on February 9, 1941, in Atlanta, Georgia, to the late Helen Augusta Hopkins Graves Williams and Grady Fielding Graves, Jr. She was raised primarily by her beloved mother and stepfather, B.E. “Will” Williams. She graduated as the Valedictorian of the first graduating class from Jenkins High School in Savannah, Georgia. After marrying her soulmate, Charles Michael “Mickey” LeCroy, in 1960, she moved with him to Shelby, North Carolina, where her three children were born. In 1971, she graduated as Salutatorian of her graduating class from Gardner-Webb University with a B.S. in Education. She began a teaching career thereafter, and after moving with her family to Lexington, North Carolina, she ultimately obtained her Masters Degree in Library Science from UNC-Greensboro in 1981.

Judy was the school librarian at Welcome Elementary School in Davidson County for a few years before becoming the Director of Educational Technology and Media Services for the Davidson County School System, from which she retired in 1997. Judy was recognized as a state-wide leader in public school media technology. She was published in the North Carolina Libraries publication and served on the Executive Committee of the North Carolina Library Association. She designed some of the first computer reading programs implemented in North Carolina for elementary school students. She also served on a North Carolina Select Committee to advise the North Carolina Legislature on public school technology needs.

Judy was involved in more community activities and service organizations than could be listed here. She touched too many people to count with her selfless love and compassion for others and the strength of her faith. She served through the years at her church in numerous capacities as a Deacon, Sunday School teacher, Vacation Bible School Director, and as a member of possibly every church committee at different times throughout the years. She was especially passionate about foreign missions and, along with Mickey, traveled all over the globe assisting Baptist missionaries. She also served on numerous committees with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina. At home, she co-founded Touching Davidson County with Love, a week-long annual missions blitz in Davidson County led by multiple churches, and she delivered meals for Meals on Wheels for many years.

Judy was preceded in death by her beloved husband after 49 wonderful years of marriage in 2010. She is survived by her three children: Dr. Charles Michael LeCroy, Jr. and wife, Allison, of Asheville; Mark Alan LeCroy and wife, Sara, of Morganton; and Nancy LeCroy Mohler and husband, Peter, of Columbus, Ohio; and by 13 grandchildren whom she adored: Devan Faulkner Ivers of Winston-Salem, Dallas Faulkner of Asheville, Ashley LeCroy Roberts of Troutman, Collin Jones of Asheville, Charlie LeCroy of Atlanta, Ga, Carson Jones, student at East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine, Max LeCroy of Charlotte, and Cayden Jones, student at University of Alabama; Dr. Katie LeCroy of Charlottesville, Va, and Beth LeCroy, student at UNC-Chapel Hill School of Law; and Ella Mohler, student at Ohio State University, Caroline Mohler, and John Mohler, of Columbus, Ohio; as well as 7 cherished great-grandchildren, Kylie, Juliet, Drew, Celeste, Maddox, Nate, and Kennedy. She is also survived by her beloved sister and brother: Nancy Graves Fricke of Gainsville, Ga, and Kent Williams of Atlanta, and numerous nephews and nieces.

Judy was known for her incredible intellect (she played a mean game of Trivial Pursuit and all card games), her voracious appetite for reading and travel, and for her skill as a talented musician and singer. She was also known as a dedicated friend to so many. After retirement, Judy was able to enjoy her “second home” at Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina, where she and Mickey relished long walks on the beach with their dogs and floating in the intercoastal waterway in their boat. She traveled all over the world, missing only one continent, including travel to more difficult locations such as Pakistan (on an educational exchange commission), China and Russia. She was the very definition of a “lifelong learner”.

The family will receive friends at First Baptist Church in Lexington, North Carolina on Saturday, February 8, 2025, at 1:00 p.m, with a Memorial Service to follow in the sanctuary at 2:00 p.m. Friends will also be received at Grace Ridge Retirement Community in Morganton at a later date to be announced.

Mike, Alan and Nancy would like to especially thank the staff at Grace Ridge Retirement Community for their wonderful love and care for Mom over these past three years and thank Amorem Hospice Care for their assistance with her final days.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be sent to the North Carolina & Global Missions Division of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina and/or to the Parkinson’s Foundation.

Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center is assisting the family with the arrangements.