Duplin Winery is the oldest winery in the South and a well-known place to visit in the state. The Fussell family has been making wine in Rose Hill, NC since 1976, when David Fussell, Sr. and his brother Dan founded Duplin Winery. Today, the winery is owned and managed by four generations of the Fussell family, including David’s sons, Dave Fussell Jr. and Jonathan Fussell, and his grandson, Gray Fussell. While you may know the family for their great wine blends, they are also a close, community-minded family mourning the loss of one of their patriarchs that passed away from Alzheimer’s disease in 2021.
Angie Fussell, married to Dave Fussell Jr. and mother to Gray, also had the opportunity to have her parents Dana and Gerald Myrick nearby. In fact, right across the street close. In 2009, the Myricks moved from Lillington to Wallace to be closer to their twin daughters and grandchildren. “Gray got to grow up with his grandparents very active in his life – never missing a sporting event and always cheering him on,” said Angie. “We also had weekly dinners together. My sister and her family are in New Bern, so it was special to have our parents so close.”
Gerald was affectionately known as “Maverick” thanks to some high school buddies that gave him the lifelong nickname. He was not only a devoted grandfather active in his grandson’s lives, but also a passionate wine enthusiast and proud supporter of the winery operated by his son-in-law. “He wore our merchandise proudly every day, whether it be a hat, shirt or sweatshirt, shares Angie. “He was proud of the business and loved having a front row seat to its growth.”
In the later years of his life, Angie and Maverick shared daily golf cart rides around their home properties. It was during these rides that Angie noticed her father’s increasing forgetfulness and repetitive questions. “When I brought it up with my mom, she told me more stories of how he was often confused and could no longer do the crossword puzzle, a task he once loved,” Angie remembers.
The family rallied around Maverick, supporting him and each other as they navigated the challenges of Alzheimer’s and heartbreak of seeing their loved one lose his beloved memories and connections to others. “Seeing my dad forget who my mother was was incredibly difficult,” Angie says. “That’s not something you’d ever wish to happen to anyone. It’s heartbreaking.”
After Maverick’s passing in 2021, the family’s grief was profound. Grandsons Gray and Case Merritt, who also works at the winery, channeled their sorrow into their work as winemakers. They created a special wine in Maverick’s honor, one they believed he would have loved. Thus, Maverick White Table Wine was born. The limited-edition wine was a huge success – selling out quickly.
To further honor Maverick, the family and Duplin Winery wanted to make an impact on the dreadful disease that affected their family. They partnered with the Alzheimer’s Association to raise awareness of the resources and support available to people who are affected by Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia and to help raise money for more treatments, more quality care, and eventually a cure. For this year’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s – Wilmington, Duplin Winery came onboard as one of the presenting sponsors with a pledge of $25,000 to support the mission. They will also be walking as a team on Saturday, November 2nd at Wrightsville Beach Park.
“Family is the backbone of everything we do,” said Angie. “Our love for my dad and our commitment to honoring his life and improving the lives of others living with Alzheimer’s is giving us an outlet for our grief and an even greater way to connect with our coastal community.
LIKE ANGIE AND THE ENTIRE DUPLIN WINERY FAMILY, WE ALL HAVE A REASON TO FIGHT FOR A WORLD WITHOUT ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE. Join your local Walk to End Alzheimer’s today as an individual, team, or sponsor.
The Alzheimer’s Association hosts 17 walks across North Carolina. The Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Since 1989, the Alzheimer’s Association® mobilized millions of Americans in the Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk®; now the Alzheimer’s Association is continuing to lead the way with Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Together, we can end Alzheimer’s.
| Alamance County | 9/28/2024 |
| Asheville | TBD |
| Charlotte | 10/19/2024 |
| Fayetteville | 10/26/2024 |
| Gaston/Cleveland/Lincoln | 10/5/2024 |
| Guilford County | 10/5/2024 |
| Henderson County | 9/21/2024 |
| Iredell Co. & Lake Norman | 9/21/2024 |
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| Triangle (Raleigh-Durham) | 10/5/2024 |
| Wilmington | 11/2/2024 |
| Winston-Salem | 11/2/2024 |
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