Judi Lois Whaley Brighurst, 61, of Pink Hill, NC passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family April 3, 2011 after a prolonged illness. Born December 27, 1949 in New Bern, NC, Judi spent her youth and early adulthood in Eastern North Carolina before moving to Prattville, Alabama to become a very successful cosmetologist. In 1997 after a tragic accident left her partially disabled Judi and her husband, Ray Brighurst, moved back to North Carolina. Through her strong will and determination she rehabilitated herself, overcame a broken back, crushed leg, more than a dozen other fractures and internal injuries to again become a productive member of society. She retrained in the medical field, working in doctors’ offices, Lenoir Memorial Hospital and finally as Administrative Assistant to the Director of Emergency Medicine Physicians in the emergency department of the hospital. She was a dedicated employee with an unparalleled work ethic. Judi will be forever remembered for her bright and cheerful demeanor and beautiful smile that never faded. Her last contribution was of herself. She donated her body to the Brody School of Medicine at E.C.U. for medical research.
Judi is survived by her husband of twenty years, Ray Brighurst; son, Richard Benton of Pink Hill; stepson, Eryk Brighurst and wife, Vivian of Millbrook, Alabama; mother and step-father, Thelma and Calvin Bridgers of Raleigh, NC; sister and brother-in-law, Renee and John Foley of Selma, NC; brother and sister-in-law, Wade and Patricia Whaley of Grifton, NC; three grandsons; two nieces and four nephews.
She was preceded in death by her father, Henry Whaley of Grifton, NC and sister, Brenda Beaman of Rocky Mount, NC
