Nelson County / Lynchburg, Virginia
By Tommy Stafford
It’s hard for me to exactly remember the last time I spoke to Lee Luther in person. I’m guessing within the last three or four years. We certainly stayed in touch via Facebook and email. I’d often comment on some photo he’d posted and he’d do the same.
Lee was an institution. And that’s not even really close to the sort of icon he was in Central Virginia newspaper photography. He was a pioneer. Lee was the photographer face of the Nelson County Times for decades. He started with them back when everything was still film. He would tell me stories of developing the film and getting photos in for deadline. He also made the switch to digital, easily, and just like the pro he always was.
Those working with Lee everyday will miss him the most. Rachael Smith was one of them, barely out of college. As fate would have it, she crossed paths with Lee. “I was hired at the Nelson County Times, a sister paper of the News & Advance in 2014 when I was 22 years old. I remember my editor telling me I’d be working closely with a man who had been photographing for the papers since the 1970s. I was a little intimidated to be honest.
Lee and I ended up becoming close friends and we worked together almost all of my assignments. We traveled to Nelson County together for almost everything so we spent a lot of time together. He and I also sat next to one another in our cube-farm at the newspaper office in Lynchburg. He and I chatted about everything going on in his life and he became one of my most trusted confidants. Mostly, he loved talking about his wife, Shirley, who he adored and practically worshiped. He was always so proud of her and told us about every time she would be singing the National Anthem at the Hillcats games.”
Once we started the print version of (then Nelson County Life – eventually Blue Ridge Life) Lee never considered us a competitor. Even though he was the granddaddy of this area when it came to news and sports photography he was always down to earth and friendly.
Eventually Lee expressed interest in shooting for us at times when needed. That was a complete honor to have him appearing in the pages of our magazine. And, his skills were absolutely stunning!
I distinctly remember the time we met to discuss the possibilities. It was at the old Dogwood Cafe location just inside Amherst County at the intersection of US 29 and Route 151. We talked for hours. Since we both came from the black and white film camera-darkroom days, the stories went on forever.
Later Lee’s obligations to his newspapers took over. The industry was also going through a big transformation. Though he wasn’t shooting for our magazine anymore in the latter years, we always stayed in touch. He would always ham it up with our photographers when they ran into each other.
Rachael adds despite a sometimes intimidating exterior, he was a gentle giant. “Lee was tough and not to be messed with but was a teddy bear at heart and hilarious to be around. He was the most talented photographer I’ve ever known and had skills that we always acknowledged at the Virginia Press Association awards each year – and he took it very seriously.”
I knew Lee was having health issues in the past few years, but he managed to overcome them as best he could and always kept a positive attitude.
Last week I got the news from a mutual friend. Lee had passed. To say I was saddened doesn’t even describe how I felt. I knew it was the end of an era and the loss of my friend.
Nelson County and the entire Central Virginia newspaper landscape won’t be the same without Lee around anymore. He was that good and that well liked, by everyone.
I’m glad I got to spend a lot of years knowing you Lee, I am better for it. And, Virginia is better for you having been a part of it too.
Rest easy and fly high my friend.
