Lisa Ann (Wilson) Wainwright

Lisa Ann Wainwright, 54 years old, died suddenly and unexpectedly in the home of her parents, on Tuesday morning, November 15, 2022. Lisa was born May 1st, 1968, in Elizabethton, Tennessee to Benny and Linda Reed Wilson.

Lisa is survived by her parents Benny and Linda Wilson, her two sons: Brandon and Jordan Williams, her brother Brian Wilson, and Brian’s children: Chris, Matteo, and Mia Wilson. She is also survived by many aunts, uncles, and cousins all who live in Tennessee. It would be amiss not to mention her most beloved aunt, Maggie Reed Moore, who also resides in Tennessee. While unable to attend her funeral, she will be attending in spirit, which Lisa will surely appreciate.

Lisa was born and raised in the mountains of east Tennessee until she was eight years old. This was long enough for her to develop a lasting love for the country and the mountains. As she would say, “You can take a girl out of the mountains, but you can never take the mountain out of the girl.”

During her lifetime she has enjoyed living and working in many places, including Elizabethton, Tennessee, Sacramento, California, Warrenton, NC, North Wilkesboro, NC and lastly in the town of River Bend, NC.

After graduating from New Bern High School, Lisa worked in retail sales while attending East Carolina University and the University of Wilmington, where she earned many credits in Early Childhood Development. She later attended Craven Community College, earning her Associates Degree in Nursing and became a Registered Nurse. After working in the nursing field for some time, she decided to “up her game” and earned her BSN from Mount Olive University.

After obtaining her RN license, Lisa worked in hospice care, tending those nearing the end of their life. After working hospice for many years, she moved on to the similar field of home health, providing care for those who wished to live a more independent life while still receiving care. She was a compassionate caregiver and advocated for the rights of both her patients and their families. She truly cared for all her patients, as if they were her own family. After a successful tenure as a home health nurse, she decided to settle down closer to home, and started working as an infusion nurse at a cancer clinic. During this time, she found her true calling as an instructor; She taught up and coming nurses, both young and old, in a workforce development program at the local community college. She was a passionate teacher, utilizing her many years of on-hand experience to lend credence to her teachings. Her lasting impressions inspired loyalty and trust in her students, even years after they graduated her classes. She felt truly blessed to be in her position and extended that feeling to each of her pupils.

Lisa’s other passion was the love and care of animals. She cared for her pets as if they were her own flesh and blood. Throughout her life, she adopted and fostered several dogs, with her most recent “pack” consisting of Cody, Anna, Daisy, and Noah. They were a wild bunch of lovable giants, all of them adopted into her family at various ages. Her favorite dog, however, was Smokey. He had lived with Lisa for several years, crossing the country with her wherever she went.

Lisa will be missed dearly by her two sons, her brother, her parents, and all the many lives she touched throughout the years. Please include them all in your prayers; while they are comforted in the knowledge that Lisa is a born-again Christian, they will still need help in this time of grief.

In lieu of flowers or donations, memorial contributions may be made to Lisa’s favorite charity, the Colonial Capital Humane Society.

Online condolences may be made through the Cotten Funeral Home website: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/new-bern-nc/lisa-wainwright-11017679

Cotten Funeral Home is honored to serve the family and friends of Lisa Wilson Wainright.