Garner honored Alex and Mary Lee Aug. 22 with the 21st James R. Stevens award. The award recognizes those that have made exceptional contributions to make Garner a great place.

“It’s just wonderful to see people like Alex and Mary recognized,” Jimmy Stevens said.

The Lees were friends with James Stevens before his death in 2005. Alex Lee said James Stevens was a big help in starting the Bryan-Lee Funeral Home in the 1970s.

1990 James R. Stevens award winner Anna Hudson said the hymn “If I Could Help Someone Today, My Life Would Be Worth Living” could be used as the motto for Alex and Mary’s lives.

“We all know how hard James worked for the Town of Garner,” she said to Alex and Mary. “You have done the same.”

Alex said the award humbled him.

“I’ve never given anything to Garner,” he said. “I look at it as what Garner has given to us.”

Mary said she and Alex have surrounded themselves with good people that help them to accomplish so much.

“We couldn’t put one step in front of us without the people that work with us,” she said.

Among those that have been an inspiration to Alex and Mary are their sons, Sheridan and Paul. Mary said her sons grew up in the funeral home, learning to walk there and many times having to give up vacations because their parents had to work.

“They’ve given a lot,” Mary said.

Alex and Mary married in May 1973 and started the Bryan-Lee Funeral Home in 1977 in Garner. Since then, they have expanded to Angier and North Raleigh. Along with helping many with their grief in the time of losing a loved one, Alex and Mary Lee have worked to help many charities and organizations.

Alex has been a member of the Garner Lion’s Club since 1977 and is a Mason in Lodge 701. Mary is a member of the Garner Women’s Club, the American Business Women’s Association and women’s ministries.

James R. Stevens is well known for his time on the Garner Town Board from 1964 to 1988. The life-long Garner resident also took part in many volunteer opportunities in the community throughout his life. He was awarded for his efforts to help others on his sixtieth birthday, Aug. 27, 1988.