Henry Heath Massey, Jr. of Gastonia, died peacefully on July 19, 2025. The first child of Bessie and Henry Massey, Henry was born on April 14, 1935 in Waxhaw, NC where his family had lived for generations. After an idyllic childhood in the small town he loved, Henry followed in the footsteps of his father and uncles to Davidson College. He graduated in 1957, and Davidson remained dear to him throughout his life.
In 1957, Henry married Emily Kate Sapp of Lancaster, SC and they moved to Decatur, GA where he worked with First National Bank of Atlanta. He returned to North Carolina in 1959 to his family’s business which was founded after the Civil War by his great-grandfather A.W. Heath. Henry, together with his brother Charles, grew a division of the business in Mt Holly, NC into a multi-state industrial valve distributorship.
Henry and Emily remained in Mt Holly for over 50 years where they raised their four children. Over the course of his life, Henry was a true civic minded citizen of the town and county, as evidenced by his dedication and leadership in a myriad of organizations and boards. He was particularly interested in education and healthcare, all with the goal of improving the lives of the citizens in the county and state. He was recognized in 2016 by the Community Foundation of Gaston County with the Allen Sims Award honoring his lifetime achievements and contributions. Henry was known for his calm demeanor, kindness, and generosity. He was passionate about doing the right thing and helping those who were less fortunate.
Henry often said that when growing up in a small town there were two places to be: church and school. First Presbyterian Church in Mt Holly was the cornerstone of his religious life for 65 years. He was a devoted member and served many years as an Elder, Deacon, Sunday School Teacher, and was a founding member and Chairman of the Endowment Board. Henry was a faithful servant and a deeply religious man.
A true sports fan, Henry’s love of athletics was a huge part of his life. He was a competitive baseball and basketball player as a youth. As an adult, he followed his children and grandchildren’s sports with great enthusiasm. He was passionate about college sports, particularly at Davidson and UNC.
Family was the true center of Henry’s life. He loved being with his four children and was very involved in all their activities. He rarely missed their swim meets, football and basketball games, and musical performances. At the end of each day the whole family was always seated at the dinner table for a prayer and conversation about the day’s events. Later in life, Henry delighted in the joys of being a grandfather and considered his six grandchildren to be his true treasures. The joy in his face and the love in his voice at the sight of his family will long be remembered by all of them.
Henry is survived by his wife of 68 years, Emily; his four children and their spouses, Cynthia Massey Gass (Henry), Henry Heath Massey III (John), James Allen Massey (Suzy), and David Sapp Massey (Meg); grandchildren Rebecca Gass Harte (Willie), Henry Markley Gass IV (Katie), James Allen Massey, Jr (Martha), Mary Claire Massey, Emily Massey du Pont (Bennett), and Margaret Adelyn Massey (Steve); great-grandchildren Henry and Markley Harte, Eloise Massey and Libby du Pont.
The family expresses warm gratitude to Rhonda McEntire and Joreida Currence for their kindness and compassionate care to Henry during the past years.
A service to honor Henry’s life will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Mt Holly on Saturday August 2, 2025 at 1pm. Contributions in his memory may be made to the Legacy Fund at First Presbyterian Church Mt Holly and to Davidson College.