Dr. James E. Hedrick, Jr.

Raleigh

Dr. James E. Hedrick, Jr. passed away unexpectedly on August 2, 2016, while out jogging in a last ditch effort to fend off mortality. He was born on November 22, 1953 in Danville, VA, where he excelled in athletics and earned the nickname “Bull” for trampling another player in baseball. He went on to play football at Randolph-Macon College (Go Jackets!) where he pledged Kappa Alpha and learned the value of hard work and beer. He became an English teacher and football coach at his alma mater, George Washington High School.

Like most men, he married out of his league and is survived by his wife, Dr. Camille Holmes Hedrick, and his two exceptional daughters, Kristina Hedrick and Marianne Weant. After a long career in Virginia schools teaching and coaching for 18 years, he served as an assistant principal and principal for 9 years. Jim earned an MA from the University of Virginia and a doctorate from Virginia Tech. From that point forward, he insisted on being call “Doctor” at every opportunity. He came to Cary in 2005 as the principal at Green Hope High School, and became the principal of Athens Drive High School in 2014.

In addition to being a proud educator, he was widely known as an average golfer who only got two holes-in-one in one round once. He also flew planes, ziplined, and went to last year’s World Series (the only time he enjoyed visiting the city of New York).

Along with his wife and daughters, he is survived by his son and daughter in-laws, Tom Weant and Julie Oliverio, who grew on him despite his best efforts. Finally, he cherished his time with his four grandchildren, Ellie, James, Molly, and Emma, who know a full suite of wildly inappropriate words and KA drinking songs thanks to Dr. Papa.

Family will receive friends on Thursday evening from 6-8 pm at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home in Cary, with a funeral service on Friday, August 5, 2016 at 4 pm at First United Methodist Church in Cary.

A scholarship will be set up Dr. Hedrick’s name and information will be available at a later date.

Condolences to the family at www.BrownWynneCary.com