Rebekah Hudson Huggins, Becky, of Pisgah Forest, died Saturday, November 26, 2022. She was the daughter of the late John R. Hudson, Sr., and Martha Breese Hudson Fraser, and was the wife of John R. Huggins, Sr.
She was born in Brevard on April 17, 1936. A graduate of Brevard High School and Brevard College, she earned her B.S. (Magna Cum Laude) and M.S. Degree from Western Carolina University. She taught special education classes for Transylvania County Schools for many years. Prior to her teaching career, she worked for the Transylvania County Agriculture Agency and for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Becky believed "service to humanity is the best work of life" and was dedicated to helping her community. Active in civic and volunteer work, she served as Board Chairman of the Governor’s School for two terms, was a Pisgah Girl Scout Council neighborhood and troop leader. She served St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in many ways, including as chairman of the Women's Seamen Knitters, and as a member of the Care Committee and Altar Guild. She was also a Sunday school teacher, volunteered with St. Philip's Towel Ministry and the Shop of St. Philip’s Thrift Store. Becky was a member of the St. Philip’s Cemetery Committee and a loyal caretaker at St. Paul’s in the Valley Cemetery, where many members of the Breese family are buried. In 1999 Becky and John participated in a mission trip with members of St. Philip’s to Costa Rica to build a church. She served as a board member and officer of the Davidson River Cemetery Committee.
With the Transylvania Community Hospital Auxiliary, she served on the Scholarship Committee and was chairman of Lifeline. She was President of the Transylvania Community Hospital Volunteers for two terms as well as the North Carolina Society of Volunteers for two terms. The NC Hospital Volunteers Board honored her for over 24,000 hours of volunteer service. She served on the board of the Transylvania Historical Society and was co-chairman of the 1998 Historical Pioneer Day. She also served on the Transylvania County Arts Council Arts in Schools and Performing Arts and Jazz committees.
With her husband John, she helped co-found the Jaycee Christmas House, which became the current Sharing House. She was the first recipient of the Outstanding Jaycette Award and received a life membership. Becky organized the Hart Road Clean-up Committee and expanded it to include most roads in the Little River community. She served as a volunteer at Schenck Job Corp Community Relations and as vice-president of the Transylvania County Bird Club. She and John volunteered as drivers for Meals-On-Wheels in inclement weather.
She received the Governor Terry Sanford Award for Western North Carolina for outstanding teaching and the North Carolina Education Association District 8 Human Relations Award. She volunteered with the Book Find Project to provide books for needy students. She was selected to attend the Governor's Summit on America's Promise and Volunteerism in Washington, D.C. She served with John as co-chairman of the Kimzey-Tilson Supply Closet to help provide public school teachers with needed supplies. She was active in the Transylvania County Retired School Personnel organization, and volunteered at Pisgah Forest Elementary and the Bread of Life soup kitchen with other retired school personnel.
She received the Young Woman of the Year award by the Pisgah Peak Chapter of Business and Professional Women and was chosen as the Transylvania County NC Farm Bureau representative to their annual Women's Conference. In 1996 Governor Jim Hunt honored Becky and John for their volunteer efforts. In 2010 AARP honored Becky and John for their volunteer work. In 2006 their beloved Woodbridge Farm in Little River was named Outstanding Conservation Farm by the Transylvania County Soil & Water Conservation District.
Becky was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution Society, the National Society of the Washington Family Descendants, a life member of the Jamestown Society, the Mayflower Society, and First Families of South Carolina. Active in the Democratic Party, she served as President of the Democratic Women for two terms, as an Election Board Special Registration Commissioner, and was an 11th Congregational District Deputy for the Democratic Women.
Becky was passionate about family and friends, enjoyed genealogy research, reading, bridge, gardening, and birdwatching. She was an amazing Southern cook, a devoted UNC fan and hoped her life would inspire others to volunteer.
She was preceded in death by her husband John, her sister, Martha Hudson Scruggs, and brother, Jack Hudson. She is survived by her son, John R. Huggins, Jr. and wife Bobbie of Pisgah Forest, daughter Margie Huggins of Pisgah Forest, grandchildren Margaret Huggins Woodbridge and husband Joe Tuohey of Pisgah Forest and East Lansing, MI, Henry Roberts of Raleigh, Mary Creasman and husband William of Pisgah Forest, John Breese Huggins of Mooresville, nieces and nephews Becky Wylie and husband Bill of Buford, GA, Chris Scruggs and wife Cara of Granite Falls, Martha Hudson Goodwin and husband Robert of Rock Hill, SC, Gilbert Huggins and wife Pat of Seneca, SC, Cherie Huggins Mason of Etowah, Rick Huggins and wife Mary Ann of Marshall, Keith Huggins of Brevard, a number of grand-nieces and nephews, as well as Laurent Augier, godson Jesse Roberts and sister-in-law Dorothy Hudson, of Ft. Collins, CO and cherished pets Caroline and Be
Donations in her honor may be made to Bread of Life, 248 S. Caldwell St., Brevard, NC 28712 or St. Paul's Cemetery Fund at St. Philip’s Church, 256 East Main Street, Brevard, NC 28712.
Moody-Connolly Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.