James Leon Humphries

James Leon "Lee" Humphries passed away the afternoon of July 5, 2025 at the Durham VA Hospital. His loving wife, Susie, his daughter, Jessica, and his friend, Pastor Jenny Wilson, were by his side as he went to be with the Lord. He put up a great fight against Leukemia for three years, twice as long as expected. Throughout those three years, he made so many friends at the hospital, the doctors, the nurses, the patients and their families.

Lee was born on September 10, 1943 to Charles and Eunice Humphries in Augusta, Georgia.

He spent his childhood in Wilmington, NC and Gainesville, GA, where he graduated from Gainesville High School in 1961. After attending college, in 1965, he enlisted in the United States Coast Guard and that took him to California. North Carolina eventually called him home and he lived in Raleigh, Creedmoor, and ultimately in Oxford where he shared his life with his beloved wife and angel, Susie.

Lee lived life to the fullest and had so many interests. He loved horses and the people he met through riding. He loved fox hunting for many years. He loved dogs, especially Border Collies and he leaves behind his loving dog, Kadee. He loved to go fishing and was so happy being out on the lake with friends, just passing time, waiting on the big one to bite. He loved to read and told the story many times how he would stay up way past his childhood bedtime reading a book, under his blankets with a flashlight. His grandsons inherited that love of reading. He loved working in real estate, looking at property and houses. He enjoyed connecting with his clients and helping them find the perfect location for their futures to take place. Oftentimes, they became friends. He also loved music. He was an excellent guitar player, bass player, and singer. He played music with many different bands over the years and music truly brought him so much joy. He loved being a Santa Buddy. With his thick white beard, rosy cheeks and warm smite, Lee had the honor and privilege of being the Santa Claus to so many children through the years with most of his time playing Santa Claus at the Carolina Inn in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The attention and focus he had for each child was awe inspiring for them and their families. Most of all, he loved people and listening to their stories. He never met a stranger and authentically cared about those he knew and loved. Over the last 3 years, other people might have dreaded going to the hospital twice a week for hours, but not Lee. He actually looked forward to being there and seeing all the friends he had made. He could make any situation a good one.

 Lee is survived by his loving wife, Susie, his "favorite" (his one and only) daughter Jessica Kelly, his son-in-law, Kyle Kelly, and his three grandsons, Luke, Ben and Zach Kelly. He is also survived by his sister, Charlene Praytor, niece Heather Skinner, and nephew Keith Chapman, great niece, Alexandria Chapman and great nephew, Ethan Chapman, all of Gainesville, GA. In addition, Lee is survived by many beloved cousins and others that he named his "extended blended family."

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that any donations be given to "Easy Does ItRanch," a week long camp for teens with alcoholic parents. The director is Bill White, 253 Falling Creek Church Road, Goldsboro, NC 27530.

A celebration of Lee's life will be held on Friday, July 11, 2025 at 10:00 am at Open Arms Fellowship in Creedmoor, NC, 2557 Capitol Drive, Creedmoor, NC 27522. A burial service will be held on Saturday, July 12, 2025 at 10:00 am at the James Family Cemetery, Lightwood Bridge Road, Wallace, NC in the community of Pinhook. 

The Humphries family is honorably being cared for by Gentry- Newell & Vaughan of 593 College St, Oxford, NC. Online memorials may be made on: www.gnvfuneralhome.com