Longtime owner of iconic Wilmington restaurant has died

The owner of an iconic Wilmington restaurant that served as a gathering spot for the community for 56 years has died. Horace Lee “Whitey” Prevatte passed away at home on Sunday. He was 95.

His silvery hair earned him the nickname Cotton Top at Clarkton High School in his native Bladen County. It was during his Army service, though, that he started to become known as Whitey. It was also the name of the restaurant he opened at the corner of Market Street and Kerr Avenue with his late wife Betty Prevatte in 1954.

Just a few months later, Hurricane Hazel devastated the area. But Prevatte and his staff worked to re-open the restaurant to serve the linemen who were helping Wilmington recover. It set a precedent that would continue, as they made sure to be open for the community and serve everyone from local law enforcement and politicians to growing families and movie stars who came to the area during the early film industry days.

There was a photo of Andy Griffith behind the cash register, for example. A few scenes of the hit series “Matlock” were even filmed at the restaurant. Among the memorabilia was also a signed photo of Michael Jordan. It was an urban legend that the NBA basketball star worked at Whitey’s. (He actually cleaned the pool at the adjoining El Berta Motor Inn.)

More: Wilmington bids fond farewell to Whitey's

More: Remembering Whitey's: Iconic Wilmington restaurant closed 10 years ago

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And while the food, especially dishes like the sausage gravy at breakfast and the homemade vegetable soup were popular, stories about Whitey’s are more likely to focus on the sense of community it fostered. Many of their fans came out for one last meal when Whitey’s Restaurant closed in December 2010, when Prevatte was 82 years old. In addition to family members, like his nine great-grandchildren, Prevatte’s obituary also mentioned longtime restaurant employees who became a part of the family over the years.

It also said that Prevatte, who was born in 1928, helped a number of civic causes. He was instrumental in bringing the North Carolina Battleship to the area, he served on the Board of Directors for Cape Fear Hospital for 17 years and a hospitality scholarship at Cape Fear Community College is in his and Betty Prevatte’s name.

A service is scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday, June 2 at Temple Baptist Church at 1801 Market St.

Allison Ballard is the food and dining reporter at the StarNews. You can reach her at aballard@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: The owner of the longtime Wilmington icon Whitey's Restaurant has died