Patricia M. Lee

Trustee Secretary and Bookkeeper

Patricia Markwalter Lee is the secretary/bookkeeper for the Trustees of the Academy of Richmond County and the Trustees of The Tubman Home. She is elected each year and has been their secretary since 1989.

She was born in the old University Hospital in Augusta, Georgia, attended Sacred Heart School in the 1st grade, Our Lady of Peace Elementary for 2nd – 8th grades, Paul Knox Middle School and North Augusta High School for 9th – 12th, and Augusta College for a BS in Accounting, graduating in 1972.

Her father, William Joseph Markwalter, graduated from Richmond Academy. She is the daughter of W. J. and Louise M. Markwalter. She has 3 children, Lauren B. L. Traxler, Wilton A. Lee, III and Thomas M. Lee, and six grandchildren. She is a member of Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church.

She was first employed by the Medical College of Georgia in their Financial Accounting office, later worked in the accounting department of Senator Eugene Holly, then Patchen Mingledorff & Associates before finishing her career with 37 years for Cranston Engineering as their Comptroller. Cranston Engineering was first Baldwin & Cranston, then Cranston, Robertson & Whitehurst, then Cranston Engineering.

It was during her tenure with Cranston, Robertson & Whitehurst that its’ current President, J. Craig Cranston, asked her if she would be the secretary of the Trustees… in her spare time! Mr. Cranston was also President of the Trustees at that time. The duties were first just taking and preparing the minutes of meetings but expanded over the years to include minutes, paying bills, electronic recordkeeping, research, meeting with vendors/contractors for both 540 and 598 Telfair Street properties, etc.

She has owned and ridden horses since her early years and has a small boarding facility at her house. Her other hobbies are swimming, gardening and yard work.

She is still the Trustee Secretary after 35 years.