Carol Ellen Higbee

Higbee, The Honorable Carol E. – 66, of Absecon, passed away suddenly on Tuesday, January 3, 2017. Carol was born in Mishawaka, IN and raised in Upper Darby, PA. She was a graduate of Upper Darby High School, Temple University and Temple Law School. Carol began her career in 1976 as an attorney in the firm of Donald G. Targan in Atlantic City. She was appointed to the New Jersey Superior Court Civil Division in 1993 and, in 2003, was named one of only three mass tort judges in New Jersey, where she presided over many high-profile cases, most notably involving Vioxx and Accutane. Working closely with the Federal Vioxx MDL, Judge Higbee was instrumental in working out a settlement in hundreds of Vioxx cases across the country.

In 2005, Judge Higbee was named Presiding Judge in Atlantic County Civil Division and was elevated to the New Jersey Appellate Division in 2014. Carol was an invited lecturer at judicial seminars around the country and received numerous accolades including being the first sitting judge to receive the 2013 Robert N. McAllister Award for excellence in the profession of law presented by the Atlantic County Bar Association.

In addition to her professional accomplishments, Carol will be remembered as a devoted wife, dedicated mother, doting grandmother, loving sister, loyal friend, and valued mentor and colleague. Her generous spirit, kind heart, love of learning, and distinctive laugh will be missed by all who knew her.

Carol is predeceased by her parents Aaron and Virginia Hudgins, sisters Lynn Hudgins and Gail Hudgins. She is survived by her husband Scott, son Daniel, daughter Susan Chihi (Kyce), sister Joan Strzelecki, granddaughters Anastacia Higbee and Siena Chihi. Carol is also survived by a host of family and friends and her little companion, Pooka.

Visitation will be held Friday January 6th from 6pm to 9pm at Parsels Funeral Home, 324 New Jersey Ave Absecon, NJ 08201. A final visitation will be held on Saturday, January 7th from 9:30am to 10:30am with a service at 10:30am at Holy Spirit High School auditorium, 500 South New Road, Absecon, NJ. Interment will immediately follow at Holy Cross Cemetery, Mays Landing, NJ. For online condolences, please visit www.parselsfh.com.