Aileen McCourt

Aileen McCourt, 63, of Wilmington, North Carolina, passed away at her home in Calabash on July 28, 2026 at 8:00am. She was born on February 28th, 1963 in Belfast, Northern Ireland to the late John Henry McCourt and Elizabeth Selfridge McCourt. Second of five children, Aileen was the only daughter of the McCourt clan. The family immigrated to the United States in 1972 and began building a life in Central Islip, New York.

Aileen moved to Wilmington, North Carolina with her parents and two children in 1995 and began to lay down their roots in the small coastal community. She was an active member of the Historic Downtown Small Business Community during her 30 year tenure shaping and expanding Top Toad. An integral presence of the Cotton Exchange, her legacy stands to represent the comfort and safety she provided to friends, coworkers, visiting families, and local Wilmingtonians alike. Lovingly known as Ma, she never left a conversation as anything less than a forever friend.

Outside of her family, Aileen’s greatest joys were traveling, going to concerts, seeing plays, road trips of any and all lengths, singing her favorite songs at the top of her lungs, and a good bit of gossip. She loved to see the splendor of mother nature at National Parks across the United States, exploring new cities, as well as the lights and sounds of nearby casinos. In 2017, she embarked on her greatest adventure yet, being a grandmother. Aileen was the proud grandmother to Caius Henry and Julian Ryan McCourt and recently became a third time granny to Rowan Mark Clamser. An adoptive mother to many, her laugh, light, kindness, and shady comments will be missed by all whose lives were enriched by her presence.

Aileen is survived by her two children, Elizabeth-Ashley Henderson and Aidan Henry McCourt; her longtime partner, Kevin Clamser and his children, Amber and Kevin Jr.; the dog they shared, Storm; her daughter-in-laws, Jamie McCourt, Jessie Henderson and Emma Clamser; her beloved grandchildren, Caius Henry, Julian Ryan, and Rowan Mark; her brothers Gary and his wife Tami, Rob and his wife Susan, Alex, and Dave; her ten nieces and nephews Ryan, Kaity, Robert, Aileen, Rebecca, Alexandra, John, Joseph, Keegan, and Henry; and her granddoggies Harley, Cannoli, Talia, and Cheeto.

Aileen will be remembered for the light that she shared with the world and those lucky enough to know her. Her infectious laugh, badass tattoos, unwavering kindness, and conversational wizardry will be missed by many. Her grace, strength, and tenacity to keep her head held high through all of life’s challenges will continue to be an inspiration to all who knew the path she walked. Having her in your corner was truly a gift. And as she used to say, when all else fails, tuck and roll works 99.8% of the time.

Friends and family are invited to White Funeral and Cremation Service, 4690 East Coast Lane Shallotte, North Carolina on October 3rd, 2026 at 12pm to celebrate the beautiful life she lived.

You may offer online condolences at www.shallottefunerals.com

White Funeral and Cremation Service, Shallotte Chapel