Gertrud "Trudy" Gore Freeman

Born in Mitwitz, Germany, in 1938, Trudy lived a life filled with grace, faith, and incredible strength. She met the love of her life, John C. Gore, while he was stationed in Germany with the U.S. Army. They married in 1960 and eventually settled in Shallotte, North Carolina in 1978, where they raised five beautiful children — Cleve, Brian, Paula, Nadine, Bernard, and special daughter Tia Evans. After the sudden passing of her husband John in 1982, she married Joe Freeman in 1987. They enjoyed traveling several years until his declining health and passing in 1998.

Never one to shy away from a challenge, Trudy taught herself English (with help from her sisters-in-law, Geraldine and Wanda), earned her American high school diploma, and even took college courses in Hospitality Management. She was a proud and active member of the community—one of the charter members of St. Luke Lutheran Church and the local German Ladies Club.

Trudy loved her friends dearly, but her greatest joy came from her growing family. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother—always ready with love, laughter, and wisdom to share. She adored her grandchildren Amanda, Heather, Josh, Tabatha, and Jessica Edwards and treasured her great-grandchildren Camren, Kaycey, Konnor, and Marley beyond measure, all of whom will continue to carry on her German culinary traditions.

Through life’s greatest heartbreaks, including the loss of her sons Bernard (2006) and Cleve (2014), her grandson Josh (2022) and granddaughter Jessica Holmes (2022), Trudy remained the pillar of strength and faith that held our family together. Even as she faced declining health from Parkinson’s, her courage and unwavering belief never faltered.

Trudy was beautiful, intelligent, and resilient—an inspiration to everyone blessed to know her. The world will never be the same without her light, but her love and faith will live on in all of us.

A Celebration of Life will be Thursday, October 30, 2025 at three o'clock in the afternoon at St. Luke Lutheran Church.

Online condolences may be made at www.shallottefunerals.com

White Funeral and Cremation Service, Shallotte Chapel.