Shirley Morgan Rigsbee

Shirley Morgan Rigsbee of Chapel Hill, died peacefully on January 8, 2023 at her home.

Shirley was born in Sanford, NC in 1930 to Rufus and Helen Wood Morgan. She grew up in Durham, and married William Alton Rigsbee of Durham, in 1952.

In 1956, she moved with her husband, who spent his entire career as a life insurance company executive, to Springfield, Illinois, and in 1961, to Watertown, South Dakota, where they raised their three sons. In 1978, they moved to Sioux Falls, before returning to their native North Carolina, to Chapel Hill in 1992. While she was not partial to the cold South Dakota winters, she loved its sunniness and deeply enjoyed her many friendships there. In addition to managing the family, Shirley was a member of the Congregational Church, an avid bridge player, actively involved in many community organizations, including Candy Stripers, Junior League, and the P.E.O. Sisterhood, and maintaining well appointed homes for her family. In North Carolina, she was a member of the Chapel Hill Country Club and the Cape Fear Country Club, and delighted in her many new friendships and spending more time with her beloved extended family.

She lovingly raised three sons. She is survived by two sons, William A. Rigsbee, Jr. (Julie) of Minnesota, and Stephen R. Rigsbee (Lisa) of Chicago, four grandchildren, Elizabeth (Christopher) of Wilmington, Bryan of Iowa, Andrea of Iowa, and Henry of Chicago, five great-grandchildren, her brother, Richard W. Morgan (Jacquelyn) of Durham, and eight nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, her third son, James Morgan Rigsbee, and her two sisters, Joanne Wedel and Carol Couch.

A private inurnment will take place at Maplewood Cemetery in Durham, NC at a later date.