Sarah Heekin

Published 2:50 pm Friday, January 3, 2025

Goldsboro — Often self-proclaimed as “the last of the MoHeekins,” Wayne County attorney, Sarah Llewellyn Heekin, passed away December 17, 2024. The owner of the Heekin Law Firm died as she lived: surrounded by friends who loved her dearly.

Sarah was born on October 19, 1971 to Linda and Micheal Heekin. Sarah grew up in Goldsboro, North Carolina where she was active in the Girl Scouts. She achieved the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest honor awarded by the Girl Scouts of the USA. Sarah was a 1989 graduate of Goldsboro High School. She went on to attend the University of North Carolina in Greensboro and Chapel Hill. She received her bachelor’s degree, cum laude, from UNCG in 1996. Next, Sarah attended the Adrian Norman Wiggins School of Law at Campbell University where she was invited to write for the Campbell Law Review and then became an editor of the Law Review. She received a Juris Doctor degree, cum laude, in 2000.

Sarah was admitted to the practice of law by the North Carolina State Bar on August 18, 2000. Sarah served her clients and the citizens of Wayne, Lenoir and Greene County for many years. She was a founder of the law firm of Bland & Heekin, PLLC and the firm of Bland, Heekin, Strickland & Stanley, PLLC in Goldsboro, North Carolina. Later, Sarah relocated to Washington, North Carolina and opened the Heekin Law Firm which she continued to own after she returned to Goldsboro.

While practicing law, Sarah was always willing to give of herself to the Courts, community, and her clients. She often assisted friends and those in need for little or no compensation. She was a consistent member of the indigent defense list, representing those unable to afford an attorney at a reduced rate. Sarah served as a Guardian Ad Litem for incompetency hearings voicing the wishes and desires of our most vulnerable citizens when they were unable to do so for themselves.

Sarah served her fellow attorneys by holding the position of President of the Wayne County Bar Association as well as the serving as the Vice-President and then President of the 9th Judicial District Bar.

She spent hours helping organize the annual Wayne County Bar Christmas party and District Bar meetings. She assisted the District Bar with the nomination for appointment of many judges during her time as an officer of the 9th Judicial District Bar. Sarah was similarly giving of her time and energy outside of the courtroom. For many years, she served as a board member and active volunteer for the Downtown Goldsboro Development Corporation (DGDC) which helped lay the groundwork for the successful business district downtown Goldsboro is today. Billie’s Backstreet Restaurant and Catering was opened by Sarah’s mother in a shopping center on Goldsboro’s Madison Avenue in 1982 and later relocated to Center Street in 2001, fulfilling the family’s dream for a restaurant in historic downtown. Sarah and her sister Andrea worked alongside their mother in the family business for 24 years. The mother-daughters team prided itself on being a gracious, generous, and civic-minded business.

In addition to DGDC, Sarah held many other organizations and causes close to her heart and she used her time, talents, and finances to serve them. Sarah was a lifetime member of the Coastal Conservation Association NC. Prior to her sister’s death, the two of them would often host the annual fundraiser banquet for Wayne County CCA. Sarah was a member of the Goldsboro Country Club and served on its board. She worked tirelessly to preserve the club and recruit members. In recent years, she supported the nonprofit Kriquette’s Kidz and various animal welfare organizations. She was well known for her love of animals, especially her golden retrievers. She is survived by her border collie, Fancy, and orange tabby cat, George, both rescues who gave her immeasurable hours of love and companionship.

Sarah loved football and was a lifelong fan of the UNC Tar Heels, Cincinnati Bengals, and Dallas Cowboys. She was an even greater fan and supporter of each individual who was fortunate enough to be her friend. She championed their causes; delighted in their achievements; and, supported them when life didn’t seem quite fair. Although she had no children of her own, she “adopted” her friends’ children then bragged about each one as if they were her own. Her humor, words of wisdom, and endless belief in their success will be greatly missed.
Sarah was preceded in death by her parents, Linda and Micheal Heekin; her sister, Andrea Gail Heekin; and, her brother, Joseph A. Campbell, II. She is survived by more friends than she could count.

Sarah has been entrusted to the care of Seymour Funeral Home and Cremation Service. Sarah was a member of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church. A service to celebrate Sarah’s life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, January 10, 2025 at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Goldsboro. A time of visitation will follow the service in the parish hall at St. Stephen’s Church. A private interment will be held at a later date in Oakdale Cemetery, Washington, NC where Sarah will be interned with her beloved mother and sister. Sarah’s friends are deeply grateful for Seymour Funeral Home and St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church’s thoughtful and kind assistance during this difficult time.

In celebration of Sarah’s life and love for animals her friends ask that, in lieu of flowers, memorials be given in Sarah’s memory to Critters 4 U Rescue, 6699 Fox Centre Parkway, Box 415, Gloucester, VA 23061; Sophia L’Orange Kitten Rescue TNVR, 1300 S. Harding Drive, Apt. 1401, Goldsboro, NC 27534; or Purrfect Hearts Cat Rescue, P.O. Box 3047, Wilson, NC 27894.