Lucian Holt Felmet Jr.

Mr. Lucian Holt Felmet, Jr., 79, of Bunnlevel died on April 17, 2025, at his home.
He was the older of the two children of Lucian Holt Felmet, Sr., and Louise Roberson Felmet of Raleigh, NC. He was born on March 8, 1946. He always claimed to have been the original baby boomer since he was born slightly less than 9 months after his father's return home after VE Day, having spent 26 months in Europe during WWII.
He is survived by his beloved and devoted wife of 51 years, Diane Clayton Felmet; two children, Molly Louise Felmet (Anthony) of West Palm Beach, Florida, and Katie Felmet Byrd (Jonathan) of Atlanta, Georgia. He is also survived by four grandchildren whom he loved dearly, Gavin Williams, Antonio Vasquez, Harper Byrd and Clayton Byrd; a brother, Claude F. Felmet (Mary) of Raleigh, North Carolina; beloved niece and nephews.
He graduated from Rocky Mount Senior High School in 1964 and from Wake Forest University in 1968 with a BA in History. After his undergraduate education, he entered the US Navy in September of 1968 as an Officer Candidate, completed OCS, and was commissioned as an Ensign in February of 1969. Thereafter, he served as a Naval Line Officer, primarily aboard the USS Chilton LPA 38, until early August of 1971 when he was released from active duty. He then used his GI Bill benefits to attend law school at Wake Forest University where he was selected as an Associate Editor of the Law Review. He graduated from Wake Forest Law with a JD degree in 1974.
He married during law school. After passing the NC Bar, he accepted employment in his wife's hometown of Lillington, NC, with a local law firm. Thereafter, he was employed as a Trust Officer with First Citizens Bank in Raleigh, NC, and later he returned to Lillington where he served as an Assistant District Attorney. In 1980, he returned to the private practice of law in Lillington, NC, with another local firm where he worked until 1993 when he opened his own practice as a solo practitioner. He began his general law practice at a time before legal advertising, which led to specialization, became prevalent. When he began, a country lawyer was expected to advise and advocate for his clientele in numerous areas of law. Over his career, his practice covered areas from service as contract attorney for the Harnett County Child Support Agency for over 30 years, to civil litigation, real estate, and probate law and even to the trial of death penalty cases.
He was active in the affairs of his profession. In 2000, he served a term as President of the 11th Judicial District Bar which was made up of the NC counties of Johnston, Harnett, and Lee. He was also active in civic and political affairs in his community. He was active, at different times, in Kiwanis Clubs in Angier, Raleigh, and Lillington, NC. He was also a member of the Anderson Creek Ruritan Club where he served as Treasurer for decades. He served from 1982-86 as Chairperson of the Democratic Political Party in his home county.
He was a devoted member of his churches. As a youth, he served as President of the Methodist Youth Fellowship at Englewood Methodist Church in Rocky Mount, NC. As an adult, he served as an Elder in Flat Branch Covenant Presbyterian Church in Bunnlevel, NC, and he served numerous terms as Clerk of the Session of that church.
His hobbies included genealogy and history. His parents were natives of Asheville, NC and both paternal and maternal ancestors were among the early settlers of the area that later became Buncombe County, NC, when it was settled in the 18th century. He was a member of the Old Buncombe County Genealogical Society (OBCGS). He enjoyed historical research and published numerous articles in the quarterly periodicals of the OBCGS. His interest in history also led him to become a member of the Marquis de Lafayette Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution.
The family will receive friends from 6:00-8:00 PM Monday, April 21, 2025, at O'Quinn-Peebles-Phillips Funeral Home in Lillington. A service celebrating his life will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at Flat Branch Covenant Presbyterian Church in Bunnlevel with the Pastor Tom Cox officiating. A private family burial will be held at Harnett Memorial Park in Lillington.
In lieu of flowers the family requests contributions to Flat Branch Covenant Presbyterian Church, the Old Buncombe County Genealogical Society, https://www.obcgs.com/ or any charity of your choice.
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