Nelease Orr Feggins was the second of six children born to Parnell and Mary Orr on July 29, 1936 in Furman, South Carolina.  She was the oldest daughter.  She was an amazing mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great great-grandmother, a beloved relative, a brilliant restauranteur, an iconic community figure, and a well of wisdom and love to all who were blessed to know her.

With only a sixth grade education, she successfully matriculated in society from being employed as a housekeeper and nanny, to working in a restaurant, to selling dinners from her home, and eventually opening her own restaurant and lounge.  She would become one of Savannah's original black businesswomen by saving $500 from her nursing home paycheck to open the Rib Hut Barbecue and Seafood Restaurant, which would become a Savannah staple, serving people from across the country and from destinations around the world for over 38 years.

Affectionately known as "Mother" or "Mother Hut", Nelease worked tirelessly toward the success of her business.  Starting as a renter in her Bay Street building, she negotiated a deal with the former owner to buy the entire multi-unit building and completed the purchase in just five years.  Her savory foods and delectable sauces would nourish community residents and presidential candidates, famed musicians and pro athletes.  Mother and the iconic Rib Hut also had the privilege of catering for City of Savannah mayoral administrations from John Rousakis to Dr. Otis Johnson.  Her successes would be chronicled in news articles and magazine spreads heralding her unique and tasty wood pit barbecue.  Her business acumen, however, was dwarfed in comparison to her love and compassion for people, which led her to feed any child who needed a meal and take them under her wings as her surrogate children.  She would often open her home to relatives and friends of her children who needed a place to stay.

At an early age, Nelease joined the Brampton Baptist Church under the leadership of the Reverend T.J. Simmons, where she raised her family and continued as a faithful and supportive member.  In 2015, she united with the First Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church in support of her grandson, Pastor Andre Osborne, where she faithfully attended and served until her health began to fail.

She was tremendously gifted at nurturing and growing things.  She had an amazing green thumb that allowed to her to grow plants or nurse them back to health after one of her children had nearly killed it.  She once grew a plant so tall that it could no longer fit inside of her home.  She was also gifted to do hair, even having a small clientele in the Garden City community.  Her major passion, however, was cooking.  She took great joy in preparing large meals for her family, friends, or anyone who needed a meal.  Her recipes for fried broccoli, deviled crab, potato salad, barbecue chicken and ribs, along with her signature sauces, will live on as a beautiful memory of the love she shared through cooking.

She was preceded in death by her parents Parnell and Mary Orr, siblings John Orr, Charlie Nathaniel Orr, Quincy Smith, Robert Lee Orr, a grandson Abraham Feggins Jr., and two great-grands, Alena Marie Nelease Osborne and Kewan Javonte Graham.

On Sunday, December 15, 2024, Nelease was summoned home to her loving Savior.  Her love for her Savior was conveyed through her last words spoken, "Thank You Jesus!"

She leaves to honor her legacy and cherish her memory her children Sherrill Williams (Steven), Robert Thomas (Sharon), Leola Williams (Larry), Curtis Feggins (Andrea), and Abraham Feggins (Wanda); a loving sister Mary Lee Myrick of Elizabethton, TN, a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, great great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins; two god-daughters April Watkins and Katrina Orr; two lifelong friends Millie Brinkley and Georgia Benton; and several surrogate children and grandchildren she loved dearly as her own.

Public Viewing will be held on Saturday, December 21, 2024 at 11:00am at First Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church, 310 Alice St. Savannah, GA 31401. The family will receive friends during this time.

Celebration of Life Services will be held on Saturday, December 21, 2024 at 12 Noon at First Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church, 310 Alice St. Savannah, GA 31401.

Interment ~ Rock Springs Cemetery, Possum Corner Road, Early Branch, SC, 29916.

Please sign our guestbook at www.campbellandsonsfuneralhome.com