Pender County board approves naming new K‑8 campus J.H. Lee after public requests

The Pender County Board of Education voted on May 13 to name the district’s new Hampstead K‑8 campus J.H. Lee Elementary and J.H. Lee Middle School after receiving multiple public appeals to honor the Lee family.

Community members filled the public‑comment period with memories of the family’s seafood business and long local philanthropy. “He worked hard for his community. He made a successful business. He helped a lot of people,” said Elton Tucker during public comment. Dorothy Lee Medlin, who identified herself as a granddaughter of Joseph Hampton “J.H.” Lee, described the family business JH Lee Wholesale Seafood and its century‑long ties to Hampstead: “JH Lee believed in education, taking opportunity, and giving opportunity,” she said.

Board staff told the board the district’s existing facility‑naming policy (policy 9300) prioritizes location‑based names; to adopt a person’s name the board must suspend that part of the policy. The board first voted to suspend policy 9300 and then approved the J.H. Lee name. The board and administration said there are no immediate fiscal implications, because the school has not yet been branded.

Supporters who spoke at the meeting emphasized the Lee family’s local employment and civic contributions. “Naming the new school JH Lee Elementary would not only honor the man who gave hundreds of hardworking Pender County citizens jobs…it would also help honor multiple other members of the Lee family,” said Jacob Lee, who identified himself as a fourth‑generation seafood dealer who grew up working at the family fish house.

Board members moved and seconded the suspension and the naming motion during the action agenda; the motions carried after voice votes of “Aye.” The superintendent’s office will follow the district’s established branding and signage process now that a formal name has been approved.

The board chair noted the survey results staff had previously collected also showed strong community preference for Hampstead‑referenced names; staff presented both survey results and the community speakers at the meeting before the votes.

The naming vote concludes the board’s review of the campus’s official name; staff said implementation items such as signage, letterhead, and athletics branding will be addressed as the building moves toward opening.