When David, "Peaches," Lee died last Saturday at the age of 91, Middleburg lost a native citizen who epitomized the caring and civilized characteristics this village community was known for many years ago.

Raised in Middleburg, Peaches Lee grew up in the house on the north side of the Community Center. His mother, Mrs. D. N. Lee, was a dedicated rider and boarded horses, for General Patton, Billy Mitchell, Mrs. A. C. Randolph, and many others during and after World War II in the barns that were located where the Community Center building and pool now stand.

In the house next door to his lived Nancy Gartrell, who was to become Peaches' wife. She exercised horses for his mother and they both graduated from the Middleburg school.

Peaches Lee was Middleburg's postmaster for thirty years until his retirement, and he and three other village citizens founded the fire department. He was so well loved by many of his customers that they would jot notes to him on the post cards they sent to friends when they were on holiday.

Punkin Lee, Peaches' and Nancy's daughter, who owns Journeymen Saddlers in the village where she grew up and learned to ride, remembers her father as a kind, hard working citizen of this small hunt country community.

"He loved his work, and would do anything to help a colleague or a member of the community," she said. "If Christmas or birthday presents for Middleburg children arrived on a Sunday, and he knew they were expected, he would pick them up at the post office and deliver them personally to make certain no child was disappointed."

"He was very quiet man, who believed that if you had your health and liked what you were doing then life was good," she said, "But he loved the countryside, the sunset, horses and birds. He remembered when the first automobile came to town and he served in the Navy on a Landing Craft Infantry Carrier in World War II."

According to his daughter, Peaches Lee respected that things had to grow and change.

"Things can't remain the same," she remembered him saying.

"He was a quiet, devoted member of this community," said Tyler Gore, who has lived in Middleburg since 1953. "Peaches was an exceptionally nice, all-around fellow who would help anyone in need and made work his life."

"Peaches woke early and helped at the barn before he went to the Post Office where he worked an eight-hour shift before he went home to put the horses away," Gore continued.

"Middleburg was a wonderful place then with a real camaraderie. I distinctly remember a time when, if your child was ill, you could telephone your local doctor late at night, he would ask the pharmacist to open the pharmacy, and the doctor would pick up the prescription and deliver it himself."

"Sadly, those wonderful days are gone," Gore concluded, "…..just like Peaches."