Willa Nanette Gillikin

Willa Nanette Gillikin, 59, native of Harkers Island, passed away on Tuesday, June 22, 2021, at her home.

Her funeral service will be held at 2 p.m., Monday, June 28, 2021, at Harkers Island United Methodist Church, officiated by Rev. Lee Pittard. Interment will follow at Vergie Mae Cemetery. Friends are welcome to attend the service. With regard to Covid, masks are welcome at your discretion. For those unable to attend, the family invites you to view the webcasting of the service through her obituary page on Munden Funeral Home’s website.

Willa was born on August 10, 1961, in Morehead City, North Carolina, daughter of Janet Willis Gillikin and the late Walker Gillikin. She was a 1979 graduate of East Carteret High School where she enjoyed participating in basketball and volleyball. Playing in the school’s Marching Mariners Band was her favorite school activity. She, along with Jackie Fulcher, were elected Drum Majors their senior year.

Higher education pursuits found her enrolled at NC State University for two years. Later, she decided to become a Registered Nurse like her mother, Ms. Jan who was part of the Carteret County School System. Willa’s brother, Jonathan, is also a Registered Nurse.

She is survived by her mother, Janet W. Gillikin of the home; brother, Jonathan Walker Gillikin and husband John Overton of Raleigh; stepdaughter, Chrissea Rothrock of Manteo; aunts, Hollie Willis Gaskill and husband Thad of Beaufort, Alma Guthrie of Harkers Island, Nellie Sue Brown and husband Larry of Otway, Twyla Matthews of Morehead City; uncles, F.G. Willis and wife Cheryl of Beaufort and Roland Avery Willis and wife Suzanne of Beaufort; there are also 11 cousins in the Carteret County area.  cousins, Jessica Willis, Scott Willis, Caroline Willis, Richard Willis, James Walker Guthrie, Travis E. Davis, Carol Brown, Callie Ruthie Guthrie, Debra Brown, Robert Matthews, and Jeff Matthews.

In addition to her father, she was preceded in death by her older brother, Craig B. Gillikin, D.D.S., who passed away on May 24, 2020; and husband, Captain Robby Rothrock.

The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m., Sunday, June 27, 2021, at Munden Funeral Home. With regard to Covid, masks are welcome at your discretion.

As an expression of sympathy flowers are welcome, or donations may be made to Harkers Island United Methodist Church at P.O. Box 307, Harkers Island, NC 28531 or the Carteret County Humane Society at P.O. Box 3357, Newport, NC 28570.

Family and friends are welcome to submit online condolences at www.mundenfuneralhome.net

Arrangements by Munden Funeral Home & Crematory in Morehead City, NC.