WILMINGTON — Gene Harriet Overbeck Britt, 93, passed away on August 23, 2026, at Lower Cape Fear Life Care Hospice in Wilmington, North Carolina. She will be remembered for her artistic nature, adventurous spirit, gift for storytelling, and ability to make friends everywhere.
Gene was born in Fayetteville, NC, to Charles Edward Overbeck and Eugenia Harlan Overbeck on January 16, 1933. She graduated St Mary’s Junior College, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, majoring in Art History. While at UNC she enjoyed performing with the Playmakers Repertory Company and was a member of the Chi Omega sorority. She married Charles Leslie Britt Jr and had 3 children. The family settled in Durham, NC, where Gene was an active member of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church. Weekends were filled with trips to Wrightsville Beach, NC, visiting family at the Wrightsville Marina. Gene also enjoyed spending time with her aunt Mary Harlan Batten, tracing ancestral origins in Scotland and Pennsylvania, and with the Batten family in Emerald Isle, NC.
Gene worked for Montaldo’s clothing store, Duke University Development office, and UNC TV. She inherited her parents’ love for travel and did so as much as possible. After moving to Harbor Island in Wrightsville Beach, she became an accomplished watercolorist and joined Franklin Square gallery in Southport, NC. After hurricane Fran damaged Harbor Island, she moved to Southport, carefully restoring a historic home. During this time, she continued to travel- especially to Venice, Italy, where she enjoyed the people, history, art, and beauty of the canals and watercraft.
Throughout her life Gene was a dedicated Tar Heel, and an avid fan of UNC Basketball. She loved to dance, and to hear live music, especially if her son Leslie was performing. While living in Southport, her favorite outing was to get lunch, then park at the Cape Fear riverfront to see the wildlife and marine activities. She would always say, “This is why I am here.”
She is survived by her sister, Dorothy Overbeck Guggenheimer, brother Charles Edward Overbeck Jr; children, Charles Leslie Britt III (Sherri), Eugenia Britt Quackenbush (Michael), and Charles Edward Britt (Rosemary); granddaughters Jessica Marie Edwards (Tanner), Kristen Kushwaha (Vikram), and great grand-children Everly Edwards, Emerson Edwards, Jay Kushwaha, and beloved nieces, nephews and cousins.
A celebration of life will be held later. In lieu of flowers, consider a donation to PBS NC, or Franklin Square Gallery in Southport, NC, in her honor.
