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Auburn Cleatus Lambeth Jr. ’51

Good night sweet prince, flights of angels sing thee to thy rest!

Auburn Cleatus Lambeth Jr, Jackson, Mississippi, passed away on Saturday, September 28, 2024, at the State Veterans Home in Oxford, Mississippi, at the age of 94.

He was born June 23, 1930, in Decatur, Georgia, to Frances (Hamilton) Lambeth and Auburn C. Lambeth Sr. His early years in Decatur were spent playing baseball with his three sisters and picking tobacco with his relatives in North Carolina. He was an excellent student and well loved by all his classmates. Auburn excelled in sports especially baseball, basketball, and football. The Atlanta Journal dubbed him the “boy with the golden arm”. Auburn attended Davidson College on a football scholarship where he played quarterback. He chose Davidson over offers from larger universities because of Davidson’s academic excellence. Auburn was admitted into the Davidson College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1994. After graduation, he went on to play professional football as quarterback for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in Hamilton,Ontario.

Auburn was a proud Korean War veteran, having received a bronze star for his bravery and valor. He was honorably discharged and returned to marry Nancy Timberlake whom he had met at Queens College in Charlotte, North Carolina. They went on to have a son Charles Anderson and a daughter Linda Louise. Nancy passed in 1980 after a long battle with cancer. On January 7, 1984, he married Rebecca Linda Johnson (Brent).

Auburn was the manager of Lincoln National serving many clients in the Jackson area. He was involved in many civic clubs and activities including the North Jackson Kiwanis club which he served as president. He enjoyed worshiping at Covenant Presbyterian Church, teaching Sunday school, singing in the men’s choir, and was the longest serving active elder, serving 31 years.

He was a true Renaissance man. He loved reciting poetry, singing around the piano, and traveling with friends, especially to the Cotswolds in England. He was known and admired for his kind strength and genteel spirit. Most of all he dearly loved his family, and will forever be known as a wonderful husband, loving father, grandfather and brother and friend to many.

He will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Rebecca Linda Lambeth (Jackson, MS); son, Andy (Jennifer) Lambeth (El Paso, TX); his daughter, Linda (Robert) Fisher (Powder Springs, GA); his two stepchildren Gene (Shelli) Brent (Germantown, TN); Sarah Frances (John) Hardy (Oxford, MS). Also, surviving are nine grandchildren, Mary Catherine Lambeth, Robert (Chelsea) Lambeth, Wilson Lambeth, Christina Brent, Preston Brent, Caroline Brent, Anne Hardy, Sallie Hardy, and Julia Hardy. He was preceded in death by his first wife, and his three sisters Virginia, Margaret, and Lynda.

When asked, Auburn said he wanted to be remembered for “putting other people first, giving them love and affection, and my faith in God.”

Auburn’s life will be celebrated with a funeral service at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 4000 Ridgewood Rd, Jackson, MS 39211 and officiated by Josh Cole. Friends and family may visit an hour prior to the service from 1:30–2:30 p.m. A graveside service will follow at Parkway Memorial Cemetery.

Memorial Donations may be directed to “Canopy Children’s Solutions”, 1465 Lakeland Dr, Jackson, MS 39216, “French Camp Academy” 1 Fine Pl, French Camp, MS 39745, or Covenant Presbyterian Church, 4000 Ridgewood Rd, Jackson, MS 39211.

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William Bruce Maloy ’75

William Bruce Maloy (“Bruce”), the only child of Joe Bruce and Ida Maloy, was born August 2, 1953, and died September 26th. Born in Pensacola, FL, Bruce spent his childhood moving throughout the Southeast, including years in Memphis, TN, Aiken, S.C., and Hendersonville, N.C. After a childhood of moves, in 1975, Bruce laid down permanent roots in Atlanta, where he lived until his death.

Bruce met his wife of 49 years, Leslie J. Bryan, while an exchange student at Hollins University during his junior year at Davidson. The two were married in 1975 and have one daughter, Whitney Maloy Griggs. Whitney, her wonderful husband, Brandon, and their two extraordinary children, Logan and Greyson, were his real joy and source of pleasure. While Bruce only had a few short years with his grandchildren, he made an impact on both that will guide them for the rest of their lives.

Bruce was an enthusiastic storyteller, with a sense of humor so dry it made the Sahara look like an oasis. He was a treasured husband, father, grandfather, and friend who prized his family and friends above all. He and his daughter Whitney not only shared a special father-daughter bond, but also a special understanding of one another as two only children.

Bruce was a scholar of World War II history and consumed new writings with enthusiasm and intention. His love of reading was legendary. His passion for history and reading led to an out-sized knowledge of trivia. His recollection of minutia – including the timely and surprising recall of “Regis Philbin” – holds a special place in family lore.

Bruce graduated from Davidson College in 1975 and from the Emory University School of Law in 1978. He began practicing law in 1978 with The Law Project, a collective of progressively minded lawyers and staff. Over the course of his career, Bruce was honored to be selected as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and the American Board of Criminal Lawyers, serving as President of the latter in 2013. He also served as President of the Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and Chair of the Federal Defenders Board. Bruce’s expertise in international extraditions led him to the classroom at Emory Law School where he taught transnational criminal law as an adjunct faculty member for nearly twenty years. Earlier this year, he retired from the practice of law as a partner in the white-collar criminal defense firm of Maloy Jenkins Parker.

Bruce’s passion for fairness and justice led to some unpopular representations, including inmates on Georgia’s death row and in notorious prisons. Bruce worked with the Southern Center for Human Rights to sue the Fulton County Commissioners so that prisoners would have a lawyer within days of their arrest instead of languishing in jail for months without representation. He also successfully sued the State of Georgia under the Americans with Disabilities Act on behalf of a blind state prisoner. Bruce was an enthusiastic traveler who welcomed every opportunity to see the world. He was a frequent visitor to London, both on business and for pleasure. He enjoyed family trips sailing in the British Virgin Islands, taking in the wonders of Australia, and following the Big Five while on safari as part of an extraordinary trip to Africa. His commitment to the rule of law took him to Dubai in 2006, where he traveled to teach Iraqi judges how to apply legal principles in the aftermath of the Iraq war.

A celebration of Bruce’s life will be held October 11, 2024, at 4:30 P.M. at the Ansley Golf Club, 196 Montgomery Ferry Dr NE, Atlanta, GA 30309. Bruce’s family thanks you for your support throughout his illness and asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Georgia Justice Project.

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Rufus Eugene Reid, Jr. ’57

Rufus Eugene Reid, Jr. (Gene) of Charlotte, NC passed away peacefully at his home on September 20, 2024 surrounded by his loving family.

Gene was born August 21, 1935 to the late Rufus E Reid, Sr. and late Helen Goodrum Reid in Davidson, NC. After graduating from North Mecklenburg High School in 1953 as a student athlete, Gene attended Davidson College for two years. He then earned his BS and MA in Mathematics at Appalachian State University in 1957. He taught math for 12 years at East Mecklenburg High School and 28 years at CPCC. He was awarded CPCC’s Teacher of the Year in 1989 before retiring in 1997. His retirement years were spent working at the Family Life Center at Hickory Grove Baptist Church. All that knew Gene will remember him fondly for his gift to make others laugh and his enthusiasm for trains. He was deeply loved by his family and will be truly missed!

He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 46 years, Hilda Lynn Reid. He is survived by his four children Parks Reid, Kelly Reid, Jody Reid and Marty Reid, two sister-in-laws, JoAnn Cecil and Barbara Mamer and nieces and nephews.

A celebration of his life will be held at the home Saturday, October 12, 2024 between 2:00-4:00 p.m.

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Zell McGee ’57

Zell A. McGee, age 88 passed away September 20. His parents were James (“Spike”) Lloyd McGee and Laura Green Heard (McGee) (later Lambe).

He is pre-deceased by his wife, Rosalind Toy Johnson McGee (1937-2015). He married Roz on June 3, 1961 in Chapel Hill, NC. Their children are Laura McGee, Scott McGee, and Alexandra McGee. Grandchildren are Clara and Lucia McGee (Scott and Diane, parents).

His siblings are Laura Lambe Bernstein, Robert Lambe, Jim McGee, Eddie McGee, and Dave McGee (deceased 2013).

Since 2017 he enjoyed a close and loving relationship with Donna Hart.

Zell grew up in Winston-Salem, NC, and Charleston, WV, with summers in Asheville and Greensboro, NC and Virginia Beach, VA. He graduated from Davidson College in 1957 and the University of North Carolina Medical School in 1961. He did his residency at Bellevue Hospital in New York City, military service at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, and completed his Internal Medicine residency and Infectious Diseases training at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN. He served on the faculty there until 1982, including a research year in London. He was recruited by the University of Utah School of Medicine in 1981 to be the Chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases. He found a calling in teaching bedside medicine to medical students, housestaff and fellows, and he also authored many research papers in infectious diseases. In 1984, he had a stroke and became paralyzed on his left side. Despite this setback, he resumed teaching medical students, won teaching awards, and took joy in photographing petroglyphs and flowers. Even after retiring in 2002, he continued to be active in teaching etiology-based medicine.

Zell and Roz enjoyed over 50 years of marriage, sharing in family life, community service, church leadership, and travel. In 2009, he and Roz moved to Carol Woods, a retirement community in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. In his final years of receiving daily care from the staff there, he enjoyed sharing witty rapport and getting to know each person. Our family is grateful for the holistic approach and genuine care from the attentive team at Carol Woods.

He was well loved for his philosophical approach to the world, and known for his charm and wit. He was deeply concerned about justice issues in medicine, especially as relate to environmental health and access to care. He loved the outdoors: sailing in his youth, skiing as an adult, and photographing nature in his later years.

He requested his body be donated to medical research. Ashes will be placed alongside Roz’s at Ghost Ranch, a conference center affiliated with the Presbyterian Church, where he found hope and meaningful summer activities after his stroke and for many decades that followed.

A memorial service is expected to occur in at Carol Woods in November.

Donations in his honor may be made either to the National Ghost Ranch Foundation, Attn: Development Office, 280 Private Drive 1708, Abiquiu, NM 87510; or to the Carol Woods Charitable Fund, 750 Weaver Dairy Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27514.

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Raymond Wilson Rogers ’66

Raymond grew up in High Point, NC and attended Ray Street Elementary School, Ferndale Junior High School and graduated from High Point High School in 1962.  He attended Davidson College on a football scholarship and was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity.  He transferred to High Point College graduating with a BS in Business Administration in 1966.  He began his working career in commercial finance in High Point with Civic Southern Factors.  In 1968 he was hired by Norris Griffen at American Credit which was later acquired by London based Barclays Bank.  Ray returned to High Point in 1980 to join his brother-in-laws’ business, serving as Chief Financial Officer for W&J Rives and later as CFO and Executive Vice President of Ruff Hewn.  Ray returned to the commercial finance industry in 1999 joining Phillips Factors, which was subsequently acquired by BB&T, serving as Executive Vice President until his retirement in December, 2015.  After retirement, Ray and Liz moved to Wilmington in 2017.

Ray was a natural athlete and after his football playing days were over, enjoyed cycling, exercising, water skiing and for a brief time was an avid sailor on his sun fish in the ocean at Long Beach.  In between watching a NASCAR race or Tar Heel football games, he was very fond of napping at his beach house.  He was an active member at Wesley Memorial United Methodist church, served on the board of High Point Country Club as well as serving on the board of the Boys and Girls Club of Greater High Point.  Raymond was always an engaging personality and enjoyed getting to know and care for everyone that he met.  

Ray is survived by his wife Elisebeth Rives Rogers (Liz), son Hill and wife Kendall Trull, daughter Ryves and grandsons Jackson Hill and Alston Holt, sisters Judy Rogers Hockenberry, Barbara Rogers Lockard and brother James McHenry Rogers, and wife Jeri.

The family would like to extend special thanks to Lower Cape Fear Lifecare for their tremendous support and care during Ray’s final days.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Lower Cape Fear Lifecare in Wilmington, NC or First Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, NC.

The family will greet visitors at Cape Fear Country Club in Wilmington, NC on Friday October 4, 2024 from 2-4pm.  A memorial service will be held at First United Methodist Church in High Point, NC on Saturday October 5, 2024 at 2pm.