Mr. Willie L. Lipscomb, 77 of Charlotte, died peacefully on Wednesday, June 9, 2021 at his residence.  He is the son of the late Bill and Inez Caskey Lipscomb.  He was born in Kannapolis, NC and graduated from G. W. Carver High School Class of 1962.  He received his B.A. degree in Social Studies from Livingstone College, Salisbury, N.C.; finishing among the top ten percent of the student body.  In 1967 he was drafted into the US Army and served honorably for two years.  While in boot camp he was recognized as a Superior Recruit in his division.  Upon finishing Basic Training he was decorated and distinguished as A Top Soldier.  His entire unit was deployed to Vietnam except for him.  That's the Hand of God!!!

After military service, Mr. Lipscomb taught at Laurenburg Institute, Laurenburg, NC and Boys High School, Brooklyn, NY.  After New York he moved to Charlotte, NC and entered The Charlotte Mecklenburg School System as a teacher.  He taught at Northwest Junior High, then Northeast Junior High while working on his Masters Degree at UNC-Charlotte.  Then, he earned his Advanced Degree from UNC-Chapel Hill, all with honors.

Mr. Lipscomb became Assistant Principal or Principal of the following schools in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School System:

Sedgefield Junior High School, Assistant Principal - 1974 to 1975; McClintock Junior High School, Assistant Principal - 1975 to 1980; Kennedy Junior High School, Assistant Principal - 1980-1981; Harding High School - Assistant Principal - 1981 - 1982; Northeast Junior High School - Principal - 1982 to 1984, (First Black Principal); Smith Junior High School, Principal - 1984 - 1992; NC Division of Youth Services, Education Admin. - 1992 to 1999; Retired in 1999 with 33 years of service for the State of NC; Second Career: Metropolitan Life, Financial Services Representative - 2001 to 2003.

Mr. Lipscomb was a man of faith and was a devoted member of Greater Mt. Sinai Baptist Church, Charlotte, NC.  He sang on the Note Choir of Sinai and The United Singing Convention.  Equally important, he chaired the Board of Trustees twice during his 40 plus years on the board.  He was appointed MAN-OF-THE-YEAR 2020.

He is survived by his devoted wife of forty-nine years (minus 2 weeks and 1 day), Dorothy (Dot) Sizemore Lipscomb of the home; two sons, Malcolm and Erik, both of Charlotte, NC; one brother, Herman (Faye) Lipscomb of Kannapolis, NC; one aunt, Mary Caskey of Lancaster, SC; many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

One of Mr. Lipscomb's philosophies: "The only time you fail is when you fail to try." He also believed in the "can do" philosophy.

His interests were chess, finance gardening, and reading.

As a young man, when I received blessings, I thanked God for my car, clothing, money, etc.  As I mature I thank God for the people in my life, my wife, children, friends, my loved ones, parents, relatives.  As I mature I thank God for what he has done for me.  I thank him for his mercy and grace.  God's mercy is not giving us what we deserve.  Read Psalm 51:1-2 (David).  Grace is giving us something we do not deserve.  Aren't you glad that Jesus died on the cross for your sins and mines, and He's still waiting to give us mercy and grace in spite of ourselves.  May God continue His blessings.  W.L. Lipscomb