WILMINGTON — Deborah Whitaker Brown Rudisill, of Wilmington NC, died peacefully in her home on March 26, 2023.
Debbie was born February 1, 1951, in Wilmington to the late Carl and Janice Brown, and aside from a few years in Greensboro, she called Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach home her entire life.
Debbie attended both New Hanover High and Hoggard High School, where she was the inaugural Homecoming Queen, and graduated in 1969. She went to UNC-Chapel Hill and was one of the first women to graduate from their Business School in 1973. It was there she met her husband, Bill, on a blind date. They moved to Greensboro, where Debbie worked in retail as a buyer and was a talented seamstress, making boutique baby clothes. After a few years there, they moved back to Wilmington, where Debbie worked for UNCW in accounting, while she continued her passion for sewing.
Debbie’s selflessness trait inherently placed her family and friends first. She never missed her son’s soccer games or daughter’s dance performances. She was often volunteering for UNCW, Junior league, Cape Fear Youth Soccer, or sewing dance costumes. She was a supportive wife, voracious reader, avid tennis player, artist, and water skier. She loved her book club socials, sitting on the beach, and visiting New York City where her daughter lived for 11 years. Tennis was her favorite sport, and she played many years of USTA team tennis. Federer was hands down her favorite player. She never missed a US Open, many of which were in person in NYC with her daughter. She made everyone feel at home, and her incredibly kind and warm-loving spirit will be remembered most.
Debbie is survived by her husband of 48 years, Bill, and her children, Carson Rudisill Hobbs (Ryan) and William ‘Garrison’ Rudisill, Jr (Sami). Known as “DeeDee,” she was especially adored by her 6 grandchildren, Jake Edward Capps, Lucy Whitaker Hobbs, Virginia Mae Hobbs, William Fisher Hobbs, William Garrison Rudisill III (Liam), and Caleb Thomas Rudisill. She is also survived by 3 sisters, Laura Brown Braswell (Ken), Pam Brown Vinson, Amy Brown North (Clint), as well as several nieces and nephews.
Special thanks to her terrific nurses, wonderful doctors, and amazing friends and family for being there for her.
The memorial service will be held Monday, April 3, at 2 p.m. at St. Andrews-Covenant Presbyterian Church, reception to follow.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Cape Fear Literary Council.
