RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TN – The Rutherford County community is mourning the loss of longtime business leader and philanthropist Lee Moss, who passed away on September 2, 2025, at the age of 74 following a battle with glioblastoma, a highly aggressive form of brain cancer.

Moss, a respected figure in both banking and community service, dedicated nearly five decades to the financial industry before retiring in 2021. His career included leadership roles at SunTrust Bank, MidSouth Bank, Franklin Synergy Bank, and Franklin Financial Network before its merger with FirstBank in 2020. He was widely regarded as a mentor, innovator, and advocate for financial education.

Early Life and Education - A 1969 graduate of Hillwood High School in Nashville, Moss was a standout athlete who lettered in football, basketball, and track. It was at Hillwood where he met his wife, Susan, with whom he shared 52 years of marriage. Moss went on to graduate from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville in 1973 with a degree in banking. He later completed advanced training at the Graduate School of Banking of the South at LSU and the National School of Commercial Lending.

Leadership and Community Service - Moss was as dedicated to his community as he was to banking. He served as chairman of numerous boards, including the Tennessee Bankers Association, Ascension St. Thomas of Tennessee, Ascension St. Thomas Rutherford, the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce, United Way of Rutherford County, and the Discovery Center. His service also extended to organizations such as the American Heart Association, MTSU Foundation and School of Business, Jennings Jones Foundation, and The Journey Home.

Over two decades, Moss shared his expertise as a guest lecturer at both MTSU and UT Knoxville, teaching financial analysis and business ethics. He also gave his time as a high school basketball official with TSSAA for 26 years, coached Little League baseball, and was deeply involved in his church, First United Methodist in Murfreesboro, where he taught the Koinonia Sunday School Class for 25 years.

Honors and Recognition - Moss’s impact was recognized across Tennessee. His awards included the 2023 Tennessee Bankers Association “Leaders in Banking Excellence,” the 2019 Business Legend award from the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce, and the YMCA Humanitarian of the Year in 2012. Alongside Susan, he was most recently honored with the Liz Rhea Philanthropist Award in 2025 by the Ascension St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital Foundation.

Legacy and Family - Lee Moss is remembered as a man who blended professional excellence with service, faith, and love for his family. He is survived by his wife, Susan; their children, Katherine Moss Alexander (Chris), John Chase Moss (Cat), and Laura Moss; grandchildren, Caleb, Connor, Kenna, Kyan, and Kellan; brothers, Joe Moss (Martha) and John Adams Moss; and other extended family members. He was preceded in death by his son, Jason Robert Moss, and nephew, Sean Hennessee Moss.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, September 9, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Murfreesboro. A Celebration of Life service will follow on Wednesday, September 10, at 11 a.m., also at the church. Arrangements are being handled by Woodfin Chapel.