Lynda "Mima" Gulley

Lynda “Mima” Gulley, 85, passed away on Thursday, June 18, 2026. Born September 4, 1941 in Johnston County, NC, she was the daughter of the late James R. and Ellaphair Wall Stallings.

Lynda graduated from Pine Level High School in 1959, where she excelled as a standout basketball player, competing all four years during an era when girls played only half-court and shot free throws underhanded. Following high school, she attended Mount Olive College and began her career at Duke University, where she became a lifelong fan of the Blue Devils. Gifted with both business sense and dedication, she later built a successful career in bookkeeping, assisting commercial trade companies, while also serving as a longtime and respected member of the First Citizens Bank Board and as owner and operator of Camptown RV.

Alongside her husband, Richard, she treasured countless days spent at Atlantic Beach with family and friends, cultivating a beloved collection of lighthouses. An animal lover, with a special affection for horses, Lynda's greatest joy was her family. She faithfully cheered on her grandchildren from the stands at ballgames and rodeos and carried that same devotion to her great-grandchildren, attending their activities and joyfully picking them up from school well into the last year of her life. Her life was marked by loyalty, generosity, and a steadfast presence in the lives of those she loved.

Lynda is survived by her step-son, Tony Gulley and his wife, Kim, of Garner, NC; grandsons, Jeffrey Gulley and his wife, Courtney, of Raleigh, NC, Austin Gulley and his wife, Hope, of Raleigh, NC, and Stone Gulley and his wife, Claire, of Garner, NC; great-grandchildren, Ella Wray, Nellie, Wood, River, Daphne, and Charlotte; brothers, John “JT” Stallings and his wife, Rose, of Pine Level, NC and Bobby H. Stallings and his wife, Miriam, of Marietta, GA; sister, Beth Johnson and her husband, Bobby, of Princeton, NC; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

In addition to her parents, Lynda was preceded in death by her loving husband of 34 years, Richard Gulley and brothers, Charles Stallings and Douglas Stallings.

A funeral service will be held on Monday, June 22, 2026 at 11:00am at Highland Baptist Church, 8524 Crowder Road, Raleigh, NC 27603. Entombment will follow at Pinecrest Memorial Garden, 12830 US 70 Business Hwy W, Clayton, NC 27520. The family will receive friends Sunday, June 21, 2026 from 5:00pm to 7:00pm at Bryan-Lee Funeral Home, 1200 Benson Road, Garner, NC 27529.

Online condolences may be made at www.bryan-leefuneralhome.com