Stanley Robinson “Sonny” Lea, Jr. | Raleigh News & Observer

Stanley Robinson “Sonny” Lea, Jr., 63, died Tuesday, November 11, 2014.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church in Greenville on Friday at 3 p.m. The family will receive friends following the service in the Parish Hall of St. Timothy’s. A private burial is scheduled for a later date.

Sonny grew up in Rocky Mount, NC. He moved to Greenville to attend East Carolina University, where he served as Sports Information Director. After college, Sonny remained in Greenville most of his adult life to work, raise a family, and support his beloved Pirates. He first worked for Carolina Leaf Tobacco Company for 10 years and traveled the world buying tobacco. He later worked as a car salesman and manager at dealerships in Greenville, Wilson, and Washington, NC.

Sonny volunteered as a youth baseball coach for teams on which his son played. He coached four years with the Tar Heel Little League and three years with the Junior Babe Ruth League. For eight years, he also volunteered as “the voice of J.H. Rose High School Rampants” at football and baseball games.

Sonny and his wife, Mary Gay Haigwood Lea, recently moved to Pine Knoll Shores, NC to enjoy the beach year-round.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his: daughter, Taylor Lea Jones and husband, Matt, of Arlington, VA; son, Jefferson Haigwood Lea, of Wilmington; sister, Donna Potter Ezzell and husband, Jack, of Burgaw, NC; grandsons, Silas David Jones and Asa James Jones, of Arlington, VA; three nephews; and three nieces.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind, 1825 K Street, NW, Ste 1103, Washington, DC 20006 or to the American Cancer Society McConnell-Raab Hope Lodge, 930 A Wellness Dr., Greenville, NC 27834.

Arrangements by Wilkerson Funeral Home & Crematory, Greenville.

Online condolences at www.wilkersonfuneralhome.com