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Lee Willard Obituary
June 3, 1951 - March 28, 2023
Durham, North Carolina - Stella Lee Walker Willard passed away Tuesday, March 28 at the age of 71. She is survived by her beloved husband of 42 years, Carlisle Bobo Willard, son Carlisle Walker Willard, daughter Margaret Burnett Willard and sister Anne English Walker.
Daughter of the late Thomas English (Boo) Walker and Margaret Erwin Walker, Lee graduated from Agnes Scott College as a Phi Beta Kappa and earned both a Master of Arts and a Ph.D. in Classics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Over her 37-year career at Duke University, she served Trinity College under the leadership of 10 deans as Assistant Dean, Associate Dean, Senior Associate Dean and Associate Vice Provost of Undergraduate Education. Lee wrote and won seven Howard Hughes academic grants, spearheaded various academic programs empowering women in science and was honored to receive the Samuel DuBois Cook Society Award for her impact on minority students in 2015. She served as a student advisor throughout her tenure and received the Award for Excellence in Advising in 2016 prior to her retirement.
Lee was a remarkable person in many dimensions. Beloved for her wit, wisdom and determination, she was a person of deep compassion, constant faith and abiding love for those around her. For Lee, family was all, and all of her family will miss her, and we are all of us the better for having known her.
Westminster Presbyterian Church in Durham, North Carolina will host a memorial service on Saturday, April 15, at 2 p.m., with a private internment ceremony to follow in Montreat. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lee Walker Willard Scholarship Fund either online at https://www.gifts.duke.edu/?designation=6189027 or contact [email protected] for details.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Lee Willard
Anne Marie Davis
October 1, 2024
My Dearest Lee, It has taken me so long to write because I "refused" to believe you have left this earth for heaven. I so enjoyed our time in Arts & Sciences together & you taught me so much. You taught me to have faith in myself. I went in to greater things because of you. It's hard to believe I retired just two years before you. You had a brilliant mind & many talents but yet you said the same about me. I will love you forever! 'til heaven, your Anne
Shelby White
April 10, 2023
So sorry to hear this, Anne Walker. Prayers for your family.
Kim (granddaughter of Ernestine Friedl)
April 9, 2023
Such a fond memory with Lee, our family, and the Cultural Anthropology Department back in 2015. Lee is responsible for the Sciences building being named after Ernie (Friedl), and our family is forever grateful for their longstanding friendship.
Heather & Mike Myers
April 7, 2023
Anne - we are so sorry you've lost your big sister! How you and Yelena and all you men-folk will miss her! Please give Carlisle and the family hugs from all of us - we'll be keeping all of you in our thoughts, especially at Easter, hoping for some joy in the midst of sadness
Margaret Riley
April 5, 2023
Lee was a valued colleague and friend. As the obituary states: we are all of us the better for having known her.
Laurie Patton
April 2, 2023
Lee was a loyal, wise, thoughtful and always smiling colleague. Here she is at one of our many "wine at 5´s" in the Allen Building when we needed to decompress. So many loved her! She was the heart and soul of Trinity College. Love to her family in this time of loss from Vermont.
Anne E Walker
April 1, 2023
We are in awe of your tender heart, loving spirit, amazing career lifting up so very many students and colleagues at Duke, and over 60 years watching out for your baby sister who will carry your enthusiasm, curiosity, and will to improve our world in the years to come. Tim, Thomas, John, and Yelena join me in offering heartfelt prayers for you and the family. We so have loved you, dear one.
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