Louise Gorham

While in elementary school, she moved to Wilmington in order to attend the public schools in Wilmington, and lived with her Aunt Ruth and her Uncle, Ralph Bullock. During the summer, she would return to help on the family farm.

She graduated from New Hanover High School in 1957. She attended Wilmington College from 1957 until 1959. She graduated from Wake Forest University in 1961.

She taught biology and math at Lake Forest Junior High School and Tileston Junior High School from 1961 until 1969.

On August 14, 1965, she married A. Dumay Gorham, Jr. The wedding took place in Temple Baptist Church, where she was an active member as a girl and as a young woman.

Louise loved people. She especially enjoyed working with others to achieve some goal or purpose. She became an active citizen and community advocate.

She was a member of the Junior League of Wilmington, serving as its President from 1976 until 1977.

She was a long-time member of the Cape Fear Garden Club, later becoming an Emeritus member.

She was one of the original founders of the Presbyterian Counselling Center (now the Community Counselling Center) in 1979, providing affordable counselling services for the Wilmington area.

In the mid 1980’s, there was a growing need in New Hanover County for a shelter for survivors and their families. Louise joined forces with a group of local advocates to explore how to establish a shelter in New Hanover County. Their efforts resulted in the opening of the first shelter in 1986. The need for a more formal operating structure was satisfied by the creation of the Domestic Violence Shelter and Services, Inc., which has provided a safe haven, support and hope for thousands of survivors and their families in its 40 year existence.

Louise’s good friend, Emily McCoy, who was familiar with the operation of shelters in larger cities, suggested that a retail shop be established to provide financial support for Domestic Violence Shelter and Services, Inc. Their efforts resulted in the establishment of Vintage Values, the first retail shop on Castle Street. Today, there are three Vintage Values shops in the Wilmington area providing financial support for Domestic Violence Shelter and Services, Inc.

Louise was a strong supporter of UNC-W. She was a member of the Friends of UNC-W for many years. In 2004, she was named the UNC-W Distinguished Citizen of the Year.

Louise loved gardening, flowers, and blending flowers into beautiful arrangements. In the late 1980’s, she and her good friend, Marie Kahn, established Bouquets, Ltd., a small flower business specializing in providing flowers for small parties and weddings. They enjoyed creating beautiful flower arrangements for hundreds of weddings and parties for 12 years.

Louise was a member of St. Andrews-Covenant Presbyterian Church for 60 years. She loved her church and served it in many ways. She was a Deacon and an Elder. She was the first female Chair on the Board of Deacons. She served as Chair of the Interiors Committee. She served as the President of the Women of the Church from 1972 until 1974. In 2002, she received the Presbyterian Women Honorary Life Member Award.

Louise loved Wrightsville Beach and the family beach cottage that provided 42 years of fun for the family and their many friends. She and her husband spent many hours on the corner of the porch that caught the afternoon breeze, rocking, talking, reading, napping and visiting with neighbors who were taking an after-supper stroll along South Lumina Avenue. Louise also cherished the memories of many suppers with special friends on the porch of the Carolina Yacht Club.

Louise is survived by her husband of 62 years, A. Dumay Gorham, Jr; her son, A. Dumay Gorham, III; her son, Patrick Floyd Gorham; her granddaughter, Alexandra Chase Gorham; her grandson, A. Dumay Gorham IV; her sister, Jo Frazier; her nephew, Franklin Travis Floyd; and her niece, Carla Michelle Floyd.

The family would like to express their gratitude to the aides of Eldercare In-Home Care, Inc. who provided such good care for Louise during the last year of her life, and to the nurses and staff of Lower Cape Fear Life Care for their wonderful care for Louise and for her family during the last few days of her life.

The funeral service is scheduled for Thursday, May 21, 2026, at 11:00 at St. Andrews-Covenant Presbyterian Church, Wilmington, NC, and will be followed by a reception at the church.

Memorials may be made to St. Andrews-Covenant Presbyterian Church, 1416 Market Street, Wilmington, NC 28401, and to Lower Cape Fear Life Care, 1414 Physicians Drive, Wilmington, NC 29401, or to a charity of one’s choice.