Andrea Gail Heekin

Published 6:36 pm Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Andrea Gail Heekin, long-time owner and operator of local restaurant Billie’s Backstreet, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. As always, she was surrounded by family and dear friends.
Andrea was born during the great ice storm of January 1968 to Linda and Michael Heekin.
She attended St. Mary elementary school where she excelled both in sports and academics. She was a proud member of the Seymour Sharks and remained an excellent swimmer her entire life.
She graduated as president and prom queen of her senior class from Goldsboro High School in 1986. She went on to attend Johnson and Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island, where she obtained three degrees and graduated magna cum laude in 1990. Upon her graduation, she returned to her hometown of Goldsboro and worked for many years with her mother, entertaining and catering major events throughout eastern North Carolina.
Andrea was instrumental in establishing the local community soup kitchen’s relocation and the fundraising necessary to facilitate it into the institution that serves so many to this day. She also served on the State Board of CCA, a group committed to coastal conservation.
Andrea later transitioned into a career as a realtor in Beaufort County and once again excelled in her pursuit, all along making many friends.
She will always be remembered for her generosity, graciousness and infectious laugh to all who had the pleasure to know and love her.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Linda and Michael Heekin, and her brother, Joseph Campbell.
She is survived by her sister Sarah Llewelyn Heekin and many dear cousins and friends, as well as her two very special golden retrievers, Goldie Glayde and Haven Grace.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the community soup kitchen of Goldsboro, P.O. Box 1064 Goldsboro, NC 27530.
A celebration of her incredible but short life will be held Thursday, Aug. 16, 2018, at 11 a.m. at the family residence at 812 Hubs Rec Road, Belhaven.
Online condolences may be share with the family at www.seymourfuneralhome.com.