Louise Hooper Jones

Louise — known to friends and family as DeeDee — was, above everything else, a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, a role she liked to say was the best job in the world. To her grandchildren, she was simply Lulu, and there was no title she wore more proudly. A homemaker by calling and a hostess by nature, she found her greatest joy in being surrounded by people: her family most of all, but really anyone lucky enough to know her. She was a helper, giving of herself often and happily, especially for her children and grandchildren. She would give you the shirt off her back and never think twice about it — in fact, it would make her incredibly happy.

Around Wrightsville Beach, Louise was well known and loved, waving and chatting with her friends as they walked by her front porch, and serving as her neighborhood's unofficial "citizen on patrol," making certain no one dared ride a bicycle on the sidewalk. Tuesdays during the summer were her favorite days of the week, when you could find her at the Carolina Yacht Club for bingo, holding court from her unofficial seat, playing eight cards at once and yelling "BINGO!" as loud as she possibly could when she won.

She was happiest shelling along the shore — hunting sand dollars, sea glass, moonstones, key shells, and more — or with her whole family gathered under one roof. Every holiday was a reason to celebrate, but Christmas was her favorite: she went all out every year, decorating every inch of her home and buying entirely too many presents. Holidays were only the start of it. She loved a party for any occasion that called for one, and plenty that didn2t.

She loved to needlepoint, a skill she learned from her mother and perfected with her best friend and sister, Margaret. She needlepointed hundreds of ornaments, stockings, and belts over the years for her family and friends, and she gave her children and grandchildren a new needlepoint ornament every Christmas.

She was deeply convicted in her Christian faith and a longtime member of the Episcopal church. And she was, without apology or exception, a Tar Heels fan through and through — it was always a great day to be a Tar Heel in her household.

Louise was immensely proud of her son, Wilson, and her daughter, Reston, but she was especially proud of her precious grandchildren — Bennett, Etta, Louise, and Charlie. She was the life of the party, with a spirit, smile, and laugh that were larger than life. She was, quite simply, the best. To know her was to love her, and she will be dearly missed and never forgotten.