WILMINGTON — On July 29, 2025 Elizabeth Hicks Harmon left this world to begin her new life beyond the stars. There she joined her beloved husband, William Duane Harmon, youngest daughter Terry Lewis, parents Donald and Letha Hicks, siblings, Alma, Donald, Jr., John, Billy, and Charles Henry and a host of relatives and friends.
She is survived by her sister Louise Overman and her husband Carl, daughter Sharon Harmon and spouse Kay Smith, son Hank Harmon and his wife Gloria, grandchildren Shannon, Bethany, Erin and Adam and their families and her great grandchildren Elijah, Micah, Alex and Cody and on the way, Shayna. Mom is survived by beloved friends Ada and Billy Cottle, her church family at Fellowship Baptist Church in Wilmington where she was a member for many decades and her dear friend, Jenny Jones, whom she loved like a daughter.
Born January 3, 1933, at James Walker Memorial Hospital in Wilmington, NC to Letha and Donald Hicks. Her dad, Donald, traveled up and down the east coast for work, and it was not unusual for his intrepid daughter, Elizabeth, to join him. This sparked a lifelong love of travel. Over the many years of her life, Mom and Dad, often with the children and later the grandkids, traveled all over the US, to the Bahamas, Mexico, Canada, Ireland and Israel. Her favorite thing to do was “go”.
In the 1950s, Mom left rural Pender County to attend Campbell University on a religious scholarship with an eye to mission work. There she met the man who would be her husband and constant companion for the next 62 years. William Duane Harmon of Buies Creek was studying natural history at Campbell when his eye fell on the gorgeous blonde woman who walked into his French class and his life. Within two years on May 8, 1953, Mom and Dad were married at East Wilmington Baptist Church in Wilmington.
Mom eventually began working for the New Hanover County school system as a cafeteria manager at DC Virgo School where she made many friends that she remembered all her life. After retiring from the school system, she took a position as a substitute teacher at Wilmington Christian Academy and later as an after-school child caregiver. It was her greatest love, to be with and help children, both hers and others.
Mom’s relationship to God and the teachings of Jesus was the guiding light in her life and she shared this love with all she met, having also been a Sunday school teacher, ladies’ group leader, and through home visitations.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Fellowship Baptist Church Youth Fund or the Building Fund in her memory. The address is 5709 Murrayville Road, Wilmington NC 28405.
