Gregory Reed Lampley

1951 - 2023

On September 8, 2023 Gregory Reed Lampley, 72, passed away from complications of lung cancer. He was born June 7, 1951 in Hendersonville, North Carolina to Gertrude and Pete Lampley.

Reed's early childhood was spent in Hendersonville and later in Atlanta and Rockville, MD. He graduated from Churchill H. S. and went to the school of hard knocks from then on. The son of a Royal typewriter salesman, Reed followed later in his father's footsteps and started a small office supply company in Chesapeake. Through hard work, diligence, and with a keen business acumen he became more successful than anyone would have suspected. He sold the business early in life and never looked back.

Reed-O lived life his way. He was a confirmed bachelor who did things by his book, societal conventions never concerned him. If he wanted to go to the formal wedding in jeans and a T-shirt, so be it. Despite his rough and gruff exterior inside was a kind and generous soul. He loved his cats and dogs.

Retirement for Reed included golf to the extreme and he played for years at many local courses. He often traveled to well known courses throughout the U.S. including Pebble Beach, Pinehurst #2, TPC Sawgrass, Cypress Point and others. Much to his consternation he never attained that elusive hole in one.

For quite a while he was an avid cyclist and spent time with friends venturing the U. S. on two self-propelled wheels. He completed many century rides including the famed Assault on Mt. Mitchell in N.C. He loved travel and visited throughout the U. S. and many foreign countries. He went on safari in Africa despite a fear of snakes and lions. With cousin Margie they landed on top of a glacier in Alaska in a ski plane.

Reed's stubbornness was legendary. As a four year old child in Hendersonville one night he decided he didn't want what his mother had prepared for dinner. He wanted a cheeseburger from the Kalmia dairy, two miles away. So mom and dad said fine, gave him two dimes and sent him out the door.

Reed left into a bitter cold western North Carolina February night in his PJ's. After a few minutes they opened the door and to their horror Reed had disappeared. A search was begun with neighbors and the Sheriff's department. After a long while, the phone rang. It was a call from Kalmia dairy wanting to know if someone had lost a child. Reed got his cheeseburger!

Later in life and after a stint at the Betty Ford Center Reed became a friend of Bill W. and overcame many personal difficulties. At his passing Reed had thirty- two yearly chips. Through Reed's generosity and support, many people in our community have changed their lives for the better.

Reed lived the last seven years in his beloved castle by the sea in Ocean View; waking up to gorgeous sunrises and soon to have a cup of coffee (black) in one hand, the paper on his lap, and Fox news on the TV. Long walks on the beach later in the day and golf several days a week were his normal routine.

Reed is survived by his brother Pete (Cindy), niece Adele, nephew Brendan (Corrinne), great nephew Gavin, and first cousins Margie, Bill (Sharon), John (Claudia), and Jim (Debra).

Many thanks to the staff at Amedisys hospice and the gang at Trinity Haven residential care home. Both full of kind and caring health care workers; who make life's bitter end a little gentler.

A viewing will be held Tuesday, September 12 at H. D. Oliver Funeral Apts., Norfolk Chapel, 1501 Colonial Ave., Norfolk, Virginia. from 5:00-6:30 pm.

Online condolences may be offered to the family at hdoliver.com