Obituary of Phoebe Young Cushman

Phoebe Ann Cushman (née Young), of Pittsboro, NC, died at UNC Hospital, surrounded by her children on September 14, 2018 at the age of 85 years old.

Phoebe is survived by her children, Sharon Koch of Apex, NC, John Cushman II (Eileen) of Mattituck, NY, David Cushman (Hope) of Greensboro, NC; brother, Robert Young of Hendersonville, NC; eleven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. 

In addition to her parents, Phoebe was preceded in death by her husband, John “Jack” Cushman, of Cutchogue, NY; daughter, Karen Cushman of Madison, NJ; sister, Priscilla Lyndes of Barre, VT; brothers, William E. Young of Southold, NY, and John Donald Young of Greenport, NY.

Phoebe was born on February 1, 1933, in Southold, NY, to the late Marguerite and W. Emmett Young, where she grew up before attending Fredonia State Teachers College, graduating with a degree in Elementary Education. She and Jack were married in 1956 and raised their family in Riverhead, NY before moving to Cutchogue in 1980.  Phoebe taught 2nd grade in Riverhead Central School District for many years while earning her Master’s Degree at Southampton College, and was an active member of the Riverhead Methodist Church and the Mattituck Presbyterian Church.  Phoebe subsequently moved to North Carolina where she made her home at Galloway Ridge in Pittsboro.  Phoebe will be remembered for her kindness, compassion, strong will and independence, as well as a devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and friend. 

A celebration of Phoebe’s life was held on Wednesday, September 19 at 3 PM in the library at Galloway Ridge in Pittsboro, NC.  The family received visitors at the Mattituck Presbyterian Church on Monday, October 1, at 10 AM followed immediately by a celebration of life with internment at the Cutchogue Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made in memory of Phoebe to either Ducks Unlimited, Inc., One Waterfowl Way, Memphis, TN, 38120;  the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, Supporter Services, 901 E Street, NW, Suite 100 Washington, DC 20004-2025;   the Mattituck Presbyterian Church, 12605 Main Rd, Mattituck, NY 11952, or to the Medical Foundation Cardiac Critical Care Fund, P. O. Box 1050, Chapel Hill, NC 27514.

The Cushman Family is under the care of Walker's Funeral Home of Chapel Hill.