Willie Reece Lambert

Willie Reece Lambert, 81, of Mt. Pleasant, died peacefully Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016, at Carolinas Medical Center-Northeast. A celebration of Reece’s life will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, at Mission Baptist Church, where he was a member. The Rev. Jeremy Hyde will officiate along with the Rev. Bruce Gwyn and the Rev. Eugene Simpson, and burial will follow at Carolina Memorial Park in Kannapolis. His family will receive friends from noon until 2 p.m. at the church. A native of Stanly County, Reece was born on Aug. 15, 1935, to the late James William Lambert and Lillie Hatley Lambert. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Helen L. Meggs, and a brother, Billie R. Lambert. Reece worked 34 years of his career for Snyder Packaging in Concord, from 1958 thru 1991. During this time he learned linotype printing, finishing, shipping and sales. From 1991 to 2000, he owned and operated Barrier Community Store in the Mt. Pleasant area. He truly loved the outdoors and enjoyed gardening, raising cows, farming and working with or on one of his many tractors. He was a very talented fix-it man and was always working on something in his shop. During his leisure time he was always willing to help or spend time with others, share his harvest of vegetables, and gather with friends for breakfast. His faith was always present in daily activities, and he will truly be missed. Reece is survived by his wife of 62 years, Dorothy Simpson Lambert, of the home; a daughter, Denise L. Smither, and husband, Tim; a son, Timothy Lamar Lambert, and wife, Pattie; three grandsons, Matthew Reece-Gordon Smither, James William Lambert and Michael Patrick Lambert; and a sister, Faye L. Efird. Contributions in Reece’s memory may be directed to Mission Baptist Church, 12444 Mission Church Road, Locust, NC, 28097.