Pamela Banks-Lee was born to Janie Banks McCollum in Greensboro, NC where she spent all of her childhood years along with three brothers and two sisters. After graduating from Ben L. Smith High School she came to Raleigh to enroll in college at North Carolina State University. She received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Applied Mathematics in May of 1976 and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Textile Technology in August of that same year. Pam then entered graduate school in the College of Textiles where she received a Master of Science Degree in Textile Marketing and Management in 1979. It was during her graduate school years that she came in contact with Dr. Shelton Murphy who was then an undergraduate student at N.C. State. Through the ministry of Dr. Murphy, Pastor Herbert Snead, and Ms. Terry Hammond (her roommate and dear friend) that Pam surrendered her life to Jesus on December 10, 1978.

After working for Monsanto Textile Company in Pensacola Florida, Pam returned again to graduate school at North Carolina State University to pursue a doctoral degree in Fiber and Polymer Science. While in graduate school Pam began working along side Dr. Murphy in campus ministry, first teaching new believers Bible studies, then general Bible study, and delivering the Sunday morning message. Pam accepted the call to ministry in February of 1984. While working as a college professor at N. C. State she also served as assistant Pastor to the United Student Fellowship on the Campus of N. C. State University for 15 years and saw attendance grow from 30 to an average of 250 attending Sunday morning services.

Upon leaving the United Student Fellowship, she began worshiping with Celebration United Methodist Church where she served as Minister of Education under the pastoral leadership of Dr. Joey Connelly. Pam also continued working in campus ministry, preaching bi-weekly on N. C. State's campus. Sensing the call to Pastor, Pam and her husband Claude accepted the opportunity to begin New Freedom Christian Fellowship in May of 2003 and held their first service on Sunday June 1, 2003.

Pam married Claude Alan Lee on Saturday July 3, 1982. They have two teenage children; a 18 year old daughter, Tanesha and a 16 year old son, Mykal. Along with her work in the ministry Pam works as an Associate Professor in the College of Textiles at N. C. State University. During her 20 years with the university she has served as assistant department head within her college and associate dean of the graduate school for the university. Claude currently works at Southeast Raleigh High School as a Counselor and has over 20 years of experience in public school education.

Pam and Claude are active in the Raleigh community, both serving on the board of directors of Torchlight Academy, a Raleigh Public Charter School. Pam also serves as a basketball coach for pee wee and junior league girls through Raleigh Parks and Recreation.

Contact the Author:

Dr. Pamela Banks-Lee
E-mail address: pblee0405@aol.com