Deborah Bodington, a devoted mother, loving friend, talented artist, and proud Swamp Yankee of Little Compton passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2013. She was 63. 

She was born in Little Compton on December 1, 1950, to Alfred and Georgie Bodington. Deb graduated from Tiverton High School in 1969 and received a bachelor’s degree in fine art from Southeastern Massachusetts University in 1973.

Deborah leaves behind a proud legacy as a Little Compton native. She was fiercely loyal to her friends and her home. Deb could often be found volunteering or organizing events for the town ranging from an annual haunted house that ran for several years, to the Christmas Tree Spree that is still held today.

She was a member of the town’s budget committee and served on the town council from  November 1996 to March 2002. She was a vibrant and popular presence on the local art scene with her membership in a number of cooperative galleries and was appointed to the Rhode Island Council of the Arts by then-Governor Lincoln Almond.

In giving so much to others, there were times when Debbie left little for herself, but even toward the end of her life, she offered those near to her heart and those she had just met a mixture of love, humor, and a straightforward charm that let you know exactly where you stood with her. Her family, friends, and the town she loved are poorer for her loss but richer for having had the good fortune to know her.

Deborah is survived by her mother Georgie and her two children, Charles Davenport of Pasadena, Calif., and Richard Sullivan of Fall River.

A memorial ceremony will be held on April 5, 2014, at 10 a.m. at the Little Compton Community Center, and a tree planting ceremony will be held later in the spring. Details and the complete text of this tribute will be provided on the Blackthorn Gallery website at: http://www.blackthorngalleryuniquegifts.com.