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1940 Lee 2021

Lee Wainwright

January 19, 1940 — March 28, 2021

Lee Wainwright went to be with the Lord on March 28, 2021.  He was born in Hampton, Virginia and was a member of Liberty Live Church.  He lived in Windsor, VA for the last 21 years.  He was the youngest son of the late Harry and Sadie Wainwright.  He was preceded in death by his siblings John Wainwright, Bobby Wainwright, Billy Wainwright, and Doris Laughlin.

Lee Wainwright was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and friend.  Lee left an indelible mark on his family and friends.  He is survived by the love of his life, his wife Betty; sons Walter Wainwright (Rhea) and Brooks Wainwright (Paula), stepson Johnathan Dick (Rita), stepdaughters Carrie Drinkard, and Dianna Welman (Bill). Lee was very proud of his grandchildren and great grandchildren.  His eleven grandchildren included Zachary  Wainwright, Katie Rhodes (Scott), Joshua Wainwright (Estefany), Luke O’Brien (Jessica), Dezaray Brewton, Celina Drinkard, Johnathan Dick II (Jessie), Sara Franklin (Courtney), Stephanie Kelly (Nolan), Isabella Letteri, and Logan Letteri.  His six great grandchildren include Ada Franklin, Anna Franklin, Autumn Franklin, Declan Kelly, Sterling Rhodes, and Quinn O’Brien.

Lee was unique, in that, he had a handful of lifelong friends that go all the way back to his youth.  This tight group of men include Billy Harrell, Crum Crisp, Lee Prevette, Squeeky Bell, Lynn Houston, the late Bud Frizzell, Bobby Ceglarski, and Wilbur Hendrix, just to name a few. 

Lee was also a lifelong entrepreneur, having owned and operated Wainwright Trucking with a fleet of 7 dump trucks for over 30 years, and a lawn care business for many years after that.  He was always looking for ways to earn a little extra to support his family and those that he loved.

He enjoyed classic cars, Fords in particular.  He was a member of the hotrod community, having owned a 39 Ford Coupe that he was immensely proud and protective of. At one point he owned a 55, 56 and 57 Ford Thunderbird, all at the same time, along with numerous other antique and collectable cars.  He traveled to Gatlinburg, TN numerous times and to the Turkey Rod Run in Dayton, FL annually for 20 years or more to enjoy the street rods. 

He had a loving and generous side to him.  He loved to host gathering and cookouts at his home to bring family and friends together. He was the kind of person that would give you his last dollar or the shirt off his back.  He enjoyed giving cars to family and friends.  If you happened to mention that you needed something, he went out of his way to surprise you with it.  He did not tell the world about it.  He did these things not out of obligation, but out of love, and it brought him a great deal of joy. 

Littles Funeral Home, located at 1515 South Church St. Smithfield, VA 23431 will host both the viewing for family and friends on Thursday April 1, 2021 from 5-7PM and the service at 11AM on Good Friday, April 2, 2021

 

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Lee Wainwright, please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Reception

Thursday, April 1, 2021

5:00 - 7:00 pm (Eastern time)

Little's Funeral Home and Cremation Service

1515 S Church St, Smithfield, VA 23430

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Funeral Service

Friday, April 2, 2021

Starts at 11:00 am (Eastern time)

Little's Funeral Home and Cremation Service

1515 S Church St, Smithfield, VA 23430

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

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