Henry Dockery Teele, Jr.

Henry Dockery Teele, Jr., the only child of Henry Dockery Teele and Lovey Brown Teele, died on Christmas Day 2024. He was preceded in death by his son, Henry Dockery Teele, III in 1972.

Dock was an Eastern North Carolina boy through and through. He grew up in the small town of Tarboro where he played in the historic town commons, spent time in his father’s hardware store, fished in the Tar River, and worked in the family farm’s tobacco fields.

He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1965) and graduated from the UNC School of Law in 1968. He chose to enter law school without much forethought, but it turned out to be an excellent choice and a profession for which he was more than aptly suited. For the next fifty-four years, he practiced law in Burke County. He was often in the courtroom in his early years, but his real gifts were best applied to complex real estate transactions and estate planning. His razor-sharp mind could untangle the most complex set of issues. He was steady and not given to hyperbole or drama. Just the facts, please, just the facts. He was deeply admired and respected by his colleagues.

He was lured to the up country by his wife, Judith Walker Teele, of fifty-six years. Once arrived, her family and his new community embraced him. Over the years, he offered sage advice to enumerable civic and educational organizations, often as a board member. He was most proud of his years of service to Grace Hospital (now UNC Health Blue Ridge) and Grace Episcopal Church.

Dock treasured the time that his family and he spent at Top Knob, their mountain cottage, perched at the top of Big Rough Knob and under the shadow of Grandfather Mountain. He was an amateur geologist who was endlessly fascinated by these ancient mountains and their formation.

Dock loved East Africa, Montana, and France. He relished coq au vin, collard greens and BBQ. He cherished the ocean and the pelicans floating above the waves, trout fishing, and skiing. Dock was surrounded by a vast array of family dogs. He loved them all, no matter had badly they misbehaved.

Dock was a good and brave man, a devoted father and grandfather and will be greatly missed.

He is survived by his wife, Judith Walker Teele; his son, Robert Walker Teele (Katherine Jordan) and his granddaughters, Laura Dobbs Teele and Lewellyn Porter Teele; and his daughter, Nan Jeter Teele (Yoo Jin Kim), and his granddaughter, Charlotte Pender Kim, and his grandson, Henry Teele Kim.

A memorial service will be held at 2:30pm, Saturday, January 18, 2024 at Grace Episcopal Church, 303 South King Street, Morganton, NC 28655. A reception and celebration of life will be held following the funeral service at the family home.

The family expresses their gratitude to Dr. Andrew Armstrong at Duke Cancer Center, the nurses and staff of Amorem in Valdese, formerly Burke Hospice and Palliative Care, and the College Pines Health and Rehabilitation staff.

Memorial gifts can be made to: The Duke Cancer Institute (https://www.dukecancerinstitute.org), The Grace Episcopal Church Foundation (https://www.gracechurchmorganton.org/foundation), and Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina (https://www.foothillsconservancy.org).

Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center is assisting the family with the arrangements.