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<b>GOLDSBORO, N.C.</b> — Mr. Wilberdean Shirley, one of the original owners of the iconic Wilber's Barbecue in Goldsboro, has died at the age of 90.

Shirley was living in a retirement community in Kinston and would have turned 91 on June 14.

He was a longtime member of First Free Will Baptist Church in Goldsboro, which will hold a public memorial service honoring his life on Thursday at 4 p.m.

Natives call Wilber's, which first opened on July 24, 1961, a "piece of history." The restaurant has served many famous figures, including Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton, Govs. Jim Hunt and Terry Sanford and U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms.

After decades of serving customers, <a href="https://www.wral.com/department-of-revenue-shuts-down-wilber-s-barbecue-in-goldsboro/18261819/">Wilber's closed in March 2019</a> after struggling to pay taxes but reopened during the pandemic last year for grab-and-go service after <a href="https://www.wral.com/wilber-s-barbecue-reopens-in-goldsboro/19189897/">Willis Underwood, a regular customer, got together with other loyal Wilber's fans to form Goldpit Partners and restore the restaurant to its glory days</a>.

This Goldsboro institution is back in business with all your old favorites and a few new surprises too. 


QUARTER EAST OF BUNN. >>> HELLO, WELCOME TO WILMER'S. WILBUR'S IS SPECIAL AND UNIQUE IN A LOT OF WAYS. THE PIT IS BASICALLY THE HEART AND SOUL OF THE OPERATION. THE WAY WE HAVE DONE IT FOR THE PAST OVER 57 YEARS IS WHOLE HOGS OVER OPEN HICKORY, LIVE EMBERS, COOKING IT LOW AND SLOW, 12 TO 14 HOURS AND BRINGING THAT OUT FRESH TO THE PIT AND HAND CHOPPING IT. AS YOU CAN HEAR IN THE BACKGROUND, IT IS KIND OF MUSIC TO MY EARS. >> THAT IS HOW THEY DID BACK IN THE DAY, THAT IS HOW WE ARE STILL DOING IT. IT IS THE BEST BARBECUE YOU'VE EVER TASTED. IT STARTS OUT FOR PROBABLY THE FIRST SEVEN TO NINE HOURS DEPENDING ON THE WEIGHT. RIB SIDE DOWN AND THE LAST HOUR OR TWO, WE'D FLIP IT OVER AND YOU SEE A NICE GOLDEN BROWN RIBS ALL THE WAY AROUND. HAUNT FARM'S IS SPECIAL IN MY HEART AND FOR LOTS OF FOLKS AROUND HERE. FOR ME PERSONALLY , I'VE ALWAYS LOVED TO COOK. I'VE ALWAYS BEEN INVOLVED IN LOTS OF BIG PICKINGS. MY PASSION GREW AND I BECAME AN OFFICIAL NORTH CAROLINA PORK JUDGE. NOW, IT HAS COME FULL CIRCLE AND ABLE TO DO THE REAL DEAL. >> RIGHT NOW, WE ARE STILL WORKING WITH THE LIMITED SLIDES. IT IS SOME OF THE BEST SLAW I'VE EVER HAD. >> WE'VE GOT GRAINED BEANS, DRIED OCHER, QUITE SELECTION. WE ARE ADDING TO THEM AS WE GET THE MONTH OPEN PEER TO WEEP AND OPEN PROBABLY FOUR MONTHS. EVERYTHING IS CLICKING RIGHT ALONG. >> WHAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT IS THAT WE STILL HAVE THE BACK OF THE HOUSE, THE COOKS IN THE BACK. >> BEFORE WE STARTED THIS PROJECT, WE REACHED OUT TO THE WHOLE GROUP BACK THERE, EVERYBODY. WE LET THEM KNOW WE CANNOT MAKE THIS SUCCESSFUL UNLESS THEY WERE ABLE TO COME BACK. >> OVER 30 YEARS AGO, WILBUR SENIOR RAN THE PLACE. HE SENT ME OUT HERE TO HELP COOKING. I GUESS I CAUGHT ON TO IT. >> IT IS HARD TO SAY HOW YOU JUDGE THE TEMPERATURE ON IT. IT IS SOMETHING YOU JUST GO INTO I GUESS. >> THE BARBECUE CHICKEN, ALWAYS JUST AS FAMOUS AS THE HAND CHOPPED BARBECUE TO THE BANANA PUDDING, PLENTY OF VANILLA WAFERS, FRESH BANANAS. >> WE GOT THE SAME WONDERFUL RECIPES THAT HAVE MADE US FAMOUS IN THE PAST. WE ARE KEEPING THAT ALLY. WE ARE STILL TRYING TO IMPROVE, AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT. WE BROUGHT IN SOME MORE LIGHT. WE GOT A NEW FLOOR IN HERE THAT BRIGHTENS IT UP. WE ARE REALLY EXCITED AND HAVE INCORPORATED THE OLD PIT ROOF AND BROUGHT IN AS A FACADE IN HERE. THE LOCAL TEAM FROM WILSON, ARTISAN OR CRAFTS, THEY MADE THE BACK OF THE COUNTERTOPS. WE ARE EXCITED WHEN EVERYBODY GETS COMFORTABLE, LET FOLKS IN THE DINING ROOM AND LET THEM SEAT THEMSELVES. THANK YOU FOR COMING OUT. NOW YOU KNOW WHAT WILBER 'S IS ALL ABOUT. COME AND CHECK US OUT

Alison Blevins

Kathy Hanrahan

Wilber's BBQ is back in business

Even though people weren't allowed inside the restaurant due to COVID-19 at that time, customers waited in line for hours to taste their favorite barbecue again.

Jessica Patrick

Wilber Shirley, original owner of Wilber's Barbecue in Goldsboro, dies at 90

Wilber Shirley

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