Nora Melissa Wilmore

Nora Melissa "Lisa" Wilmore passed away September 21, 2025, in Saluda, NC from ongoing health issues after having a stroke in November of 2024. She was 72 years old.

While Nora was born in Asheville, North Carolina, she spent most of her life in Savannah, Georgia and always considered it to be her home. What name you knew her by depended on when you knew her in her life. At various times and during different places of employment she would alternate between using Nora and Lisa. She may have liked the idea of having an alter ego in some way, but both people were just her; a simple lady who would rather spend all day in bed with a good book and a quality cup of coffee over just about anything. Preferably with a critter or two cuddled up beside her.

She loved dark chocolate and getting lost in the stacks at the local library. She was the person who could tell you not only exactly what she would do with the money if she finally won the lotto, but also the best way to accept the winnings so you'd pay fewer taxes. She had a black thumb and was known to kill cacti but was good at keeping dogs and cats alive well into decrepitude. Pumpkin muffins from Starbucks were a slight addiction of hers in the last few years. She started buying them because she felt bad for always stealing the Wi-fi from the parking lot to download books to her Kindle. After a while it was hard to know if the trips were for the muffins or for the books.

My mom had a temper that could shoot off like a firework but would typically fizzle out just as fast. She could cuss like a sailor but then be completely incensed when she felt like someone "wasn't raised right" and was "uncouth" or just rude. She could not stand injustice and taught me from a very young age that as a citizen I have to make my voice heard at the ballot box. She was a big proponent of "if you don't vote, you can't complain." And my mama was not going to miss an opportunity to complain about politics.

Just as she was with me for my first breath, I am honored I could be there to hold her hand and witness her last. It was just the two of us, and the love we shared - immense and unwavering - which I hope made her transition easier. I will think of her every time I smell the nostalgic scent of a used book store or come up with a creative cuss word while in traffic. I will miss her expertise of seeming like she was agreeing with me while subtly letting me come to the conclusion I might be wrong. I hate knowing that I have lost the one person on the planet that I knew without a shadow of doubt loved me more than they loved themselves, but also know how lucky I am to have known that feeling at all.

She is survived by her only child, Katie Wilmore (George Dervissis) of Columbus, NC; a grandson, Alexander Dervissis of Columbus, NC; an older brother, Scott Clark of Savannah; an older sister, Susan Gebhart of Savannah; a nephew, Richard Gebhart (Diane) of Savannah; and several great nieces and nephews.

Per her wishes no services will be held. If you are so inclined, please make a donation in her name to your local animal shelter or library. I would also like to extend my love and gratitude to Bobby and Ruth Hanson who visited my mom weekly when she was still in Savannah and I couldn't be there. Special thanks also to the caregivers at Autumn Care of Saluda who worked so hard to help me get mom to NC after her stroke last year and gave me the chance to have these last few months with her. Your caring hearts were all noticed and felt.