Jeannette Lee Brake, 92, of Hampton, VA, passed away surrounded by family on April 13, 2017 of pneumonia.

Jeannette was born in Coats, NC, one of Verna P. and James P. Lee's seven children. She graduated from high school in Varina, NC and from Hardbarger's Business College in Raleigh, NC. She was the first employee of the State Employees Credit Union of NC.

She married her life-long love and raised five children with kindness, and generosity before returning to Thomas Nelson Community College, graduating as Salutatorian.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Norman E. Brake, and by her parents, Verna P. and James P. Lee, her brothers, James and Curtis Lee, and her sisters Ethel Thames, Lucille Byrd, Norma Stephens, and Melba Wooten. She is survived by: her children Norman Jr. (Joan) of Lakeland, FL, Pam (Dan) of Williamsburg, VA, Patricia of Hampton, VA, Ricky (Beth) of Clover, SC, and Bill (Connie) of Winston-Salem, NC, eight grandchildren, Paul (Denise), Peter, Patrick (Jill), Mary (Joseph) Witherspoon, Hayden, Kyle, Phoebe, and Virginia, and six great grandchildren, Aiden, Abbey, Mike, Kaylee, Luke, and Finnley.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, April 21, 2017 at R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home, 245 S. Armistead Ave., in Hampton.

In lieu of flowers, Jeannette requested donations to the charity of the donor's choice.