Lucile Aycock McKee

The daughter of Lucile Harrison Best and William Benjamin Aycock, she was born on March 30, 1919 in Warsaw, North Carolina in the home of her maternal grandparents, Hulda Walston Best and Lucius Pender Best. Her paternal grandparents were Cora Lily Woodard Aycock and Governor Charles Brantley Aycock.

She attended Raleigh public schools and graduated from Saint Mary’s Junior College and Meredith College. She attended graduate school at North Carolina State University and studied vocational guidance at Duke Univerisity. On August 22, 1942 she married James McKee of Raleigh by whom she was predeceased in 2001.

A member of Christ Church, she held a leadership position in the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina. She was committed to volunteer service throughout her life and was a leader in the civic, cultural, and social life of the city and state. Her profound sense of gratitude and graciousmess, joie de vivre, love of learning, cultivation of beauty in her garden of white flowers, her appreciation and encouragement of young children and friends, and her compassion for and understanding of those in need are among the many legacies of her life.

She is survived by her daughters Lucile Best McKee Clarkson and husband William Clarkson IV of Atlanta, Georgia and Marguerite McPheeters McKee Moss and husband Robert Lancaster Williams Moss of Dallas, Texas. Her grandchildren are Dorothea Dandridge Williams Moss and husband Stockton Strawbridge Williams of Washington, DC, Lucile Aycock McKee Moss Meyer and husband Edward Michael Benjamin Meyer of New York City, William Clarkson V and wife Marguerite Charlotte Camp Clarkson, and Susan McKee Clarkson Turner and husband James Longyear Turner of Larkspur, Calfornia. Her great grandchildren are Benjamin Robert Thomas Meyer of New York, James Stockton Williams and Lucile Lowry Williams of Washington, DC.

She was predeceased by her brothers Charles Brantley Aycock and his wife Marian McClenaghan Aycock and Major William Benjamin Aycock and is survived by her sister in law Jane Beaman Aycock and by nieces Jane Aycock Murphy and husband Sam Walker Murphy of Jasper, Alabama, Elizabeth Aycock Holden and husband Michael Holden of Wake Forest and by Marguerite Dixon Ayers and husband Allan Ayers of Baltimore, Maryland. She was predeceased by her nephew Ben Franklin Dixon of Washington, DC.

The family expresses gratitude to her faithful friends Marie Layton and Diane Van Buren.

If you wish to honor her memory, she expressed her hope that “you encourage and support the nurture, health, and education of children in deepest need, locally and globally.”

The interment officiated by The Right Reverend Robert W. Estill and The Reverend William Clarkson IV will be held at Oakwood Cemetery on Friday, November 29 at 11.00 a.m.

Arrangements by Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, Saint Mary's St., Raleigh.