Deborah "Sonni" J. Brown Hepworth

Deborah J. Brown Hepworth “Sonni”, 65 of Lawrence Harbor passed away at home on Saturday, September 17, 2022.  She was born Deborah J. Thomas on October 15, 1956, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  Sonni grew up in Pennsylvania and later lived in Williamstown, New Jersey, Mount Holly, New Jersey and lastly moved to Lawrence Harbor in 2004.  Sonni meet her beloved husband, Harry and they started their life together in South Orange, New Jersey.  On May 1, 2004, Sonni married the love of her life, Harry W. Hepworth Sr and they settled in Laurence Harbor. Prior to his passing on June 4, 2022, they were snowbirds, traveling for the last 16 years to Florida during the cold New Jersey winter months; 12 of those years they spent in Miami. 

Sonni retired from Keller Williams Realty, Englishtown, New Jersey where she worked for 20 years as a Real Estate Agent. In her spare time, she was an avid book reader and loved going for daily walks.  Sonni adored her time traveling with her husband, especially to the islands and Mexico, which were her favorite places to visit.  Together they also spent time visiting Europe and travelling to places like Italy and Greece.  Above all else Sonni was a devoted daughter, wife, mother, sister, aunt, and friend. She will greatly missed and never forgotten. 

Sonni was predeceased by beloved and devoted husband of 18 years, Harry W. Hepworth Sr., her cherished son, Jerry P. Wilkins, her father, Theodore Thomas, her mother  Barbara J. Winstead Brown ,siblings, Theodora Thomas, and Jonathan Thomas.  She is survived by her loving son, George C. Wilkins III of Wilmington, Delaware, her dear siblings, Ernest Thomas, Charlyn Battle, and her husband Neal and Shimaine Brown, cherished grandchildren, George Kelly, Jaylen Jonathan Wilkins and Lane Kye Wilkins, stepchildren, Guy D. Hepworth and his wife, Corrine L., Harry W. “Ross” Hepworth Jr., and Matthew D. Hepworth and her caring stepfather, Charles Brown. 

Funeral arrangements entrusted to Shore Point Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 3269 State Highway/Route 35 North, Hazlet, New Jersey 07730 are private. For information, directions, or to send condolences to the family please visit, www.shorepointfh.com

A loving message from Sonni’s son, George:

My Mother, My Angel, My Rock!

You loved hard with high expectations. You were passionate and direct with an extreme belief in loyalty and genuine love. You were tough but also fragile, a beautiful ray of Sonni. You were full of life and full of personality and your confidence glowed from within. You survived circumstances that would’ve broken most people as you were a fighter by nature with strength to be admired. As your proud son, I am thankful to the Heavenly Father to have you as my mother. I will always remember you telling me in your own words “George, you are your mother’s son.” 

I love you Mom, you will always be "Sonni forever". 

A loving message from Sonni’s niece, Taleya:

Hello Auntie,

Life without you will simply not be the same, you were my Bonus Mother, more than just my aunt, You gave me the raw & unfiltered truth about life and because of that I became a stronger woman, a better woman! you helped to shape who I am today; Resilient! You & Uncle Harry loved my daughter London as if she were your own grandchild, that’s who you both were! You gave so much love and only desired the same in return. You were a "Real One” you enjoyed connecting with people on a deeper level. always straightforward told it like it was, but you were also deeply compassionate, and yes you were crazy controlling, but it was because you only want the best for me, for all of your family members, you wanted us all to win in life. There will never be another like you, I"ll be seeing you Sonni Bunno, kiss Harry Belefonte for me.

All my Love, your one, your only Tebe ~ Taleya

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