Seeley LeeAnn "Woodard" Finicum

Seeley LeeAnn Woodard Finicum passed away on Friday, August 15th, in Whispering Pines, North Carolina due to complications from ALS. She was 61.

LeeAnn leaves to cherish her memory her husband of 34 years, James Scott Finicum, son Isaac Walton Finicum, brother Will W. Woodard III (Suzy) of Southern Shores, nephews William Lionel "Leo" Woodard of Raleigh, Carter Richmond Finicum of Arlington, Texas, and niece Margaret Frances Finicum of Palo Pinto, Texas.

LeeAnn was preceded in death by her son Emmanuel "Manny" Abrahan Finicum of Whispering Pines and her mother and father, Ann Seeley Lee Woodard and Will W. Woodard Jr. of Wilson.

LeeAnn was a graduate of Ralph L. Fike High School in Wilson and The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She met her husband, Scott, while working in Vail, Colorado. LeeAnn and Scott lived and worked in Manteo, Hillsborough, Grandy, Fayetteville, Troy, and Whispering Pines while Scott matriculated in Methodist ministry. LeeAnn loved church youth ministry and served as the youth director of Mount Olivet UMC in Manteo.

LeeAnn was a gifted singer who was selected to attend the NC Governor's School for Voice. She sang at First United Methodist Church in Wilson and in Wilson school and community theater. She brought down the house as Lucy in "You're A Good Man Charlie Brown" and starred as "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" as a senior in high school.

LeeAnn's heart was three sizes too big. She loved her rescue pups, Watson and Holmes, and had several rescue kitties over the years. She made church mission trips to Haiti and western North Carolina. A hard worker with keen attention to detail, LeeAnn and Scott's shared restaurant hospitality backgrounds made them formidable party hosts and occasional caterers.

LeeAnn loved trees and birds, especially coastal live oaks, indigo buntings and woodpeckers. She enjoyed hiking in the woods or walking on the beach, skiing, boating, the Liverpool Football Club, and the music of The Grateful Dead, The Pat Metheny Group, and Jacob Collier.

There will be a celebration of LeeAnn's life on Wednesday, August 20 at 1:00pm at Pinehurst United Methodist Church with the Reverend Jabe Largen officiating.

Memorial donations in LeeAnn's name can be made in support of youth ministries of Pinehurst United Methodist Church, 4111 Airport Road, Pinehurst, NC 28374.