Category: 1974

Gilbert “Hugh” Moore Jr, 71 of Sanford passed away Monday June 24, 2024. 

Funeral arrangements are pending. 

Hugh was the son of the late Gilbert Hugh Moore Sr and Lavonna Deel Moore. He was born on February 4, 1953, in Hampton, Virginia. As a child, Hugh and his family moved frequently for his father’s career as a salesman. Most of his childhood was spent in Charlotte and Greensboro. He graduated from Davidson College in 1974 with a Bachelor of Arts in English. Following college, Hugh served as a United States Peace Corps volunteer in Iran for a year before attending law school at the University of North Carolina from 1975-1978. Hugh first practiced law in Louisburg for a short time and then moved to Sanford where he was a well-respected attorney for more than 40 years. He was devoted to his career and was passionate about working toward justice and advocating for people from all walks of life. Molly McElveen, his office manager, was his trusted right hand for nearly his entire career.

Sanford was home for Hugh, and he was actively involved in the community. He participated in many local organizations throughout his life including the Optimist Club, Haven, Friends of the Library, the Hispanic Task Force, the Lee County Board of Elections, Willing Hands, and the local Democratic party. Kiwanis Park was one of his favorite places to exercise. Hugh had a love for words and looked forward to Sanford’s annual Spelling Bee competition.

Anyone who knew Hugh knew his love for UNC and Carolina sports. Depending on the season, he could be found at Kenan Stadium, the Dean Dome, or Boshamer Stadium cheering on his beloved Tar Heels. He took sports seriously and was always in a good mood after a Carolina victory.

Family was important to Hugh, and he dearly loved his three sisters. For many summers, the Moore Family vacationed at Emerald Isle creating beautiful memories. Hugh was proud of his nieces and nephews and was a special uncle to them.

One of the greatest joys of Hugh’s life was being Elizabeth’s father. He passed on to her his love of politics, trivia, music, and travel. They shared special trips to London and Spain. Watching Elizabeth grow up brought him great pride, and he thought very highly of her husband, Stuart. In his last year of life, Hugh became a granddaddy to James, and perhaps this was his favorite title of all. James could always make his granddaddy smile and filled him with tremendous happiness.

Hugh will be remembered as a smart, humble, generous, witty person who lived life to the fullest. He made the world a better place and will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

Mr. Moore is survived by his daughter, Elizabeth Grace Moore (Stuart Thomason) of Morrisville; grandson, James Lasater Thomason; sisters, Wanda Hunter (Tye) of Chapel Hill, Debbie MacDonald (Steve) of St Augustine, FL, and Libby Smith (Nelson) of Rocky Mount; best friend, Dr. Howard James; special friend, Laura Farmer; former wife, Virginia Moore; beloved nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephew.

Memorial contributions can be made to the American Friends Service Committee @ afsc.org; Amnesty International USA @ amnestyusa.org; or Doctors Without Borders USA @ donate.doctorswithoutborders.org. 

William R. “Bill” Giduz, longtime public relations official for Davidson College, advocate for affordable housing, and committed community servant died May 11, 2024 from complications of Parkinson’s disease. He was 72.

Born April 12, 1952 in Chapel Hill, NC, he was the oldest son of the late Roland and Helen Giduz. Their example instilled in him the value of civic engagement, the importance of a loving home where no one is a stranger, and the habit of quiet assistance to people in need. He attended Durham Academy and graduated from Chapel Hill High School. 

At 18, he arrived at Davidson College as a freshman intending to major in Math. After one calculus class with a prof nicknamed “The Smiling F” he switched to a History major and French minor. That shift led to the formative experience of his life: Junior Year Abroad in Montpellier, France. Bill considered his best year at Davidson College to be the year he wasn’t at Davidson. In France, he bonded with classmates who became lifelong friends, a second family, and instigators of some risky activities. The Université de Montpellier being on strike much of the year, they opted for experiential learning over the classroom, wandering all over Europe and working on their “passable kitchen French” as one of them called it. Upon their return to Davidson senior year, they had to take double course loads to graduate on time.

After graduation, Bill embarked on two epic trips in 1975. The first was a 2,700-mile drive from Algeria to Togo through Africa’s Sahara Desert with Davidson classmate “Bruno” Sorrentino in a Citroën 2CV, known as a deux chevaux, or, as others called it, “an umbrella on wheels.”  

Bill followed that with a two-and-a-half-month overland trip with his brother Bob that took them by buses and trains from Brussels, Belgium to New Delhi, India, including through Afghanistan’s Khyber Pass. Bill returned in the pink of health; Bob arrived home to undergo lengthy treatment for hepatitis and other ailments he acquired during the trip that almost killed him.

After earning a master’s degree in journalism from New York’s Columbia University and racking up $500 in parking tickets, Bill moved to Atlanta to work in public relations for Southern Bell. Collection Agents from NYC tracked him down there and extracted the parking fines. Bill remained on the right side of the law after that.

In January of 1980, he started work at Davidson College as news writer and college photographer. It turned into a 37-year public relations career. He was a common sight around the tree-lined campus, long legs pedaling his bike, camera slung around his neck, looking for the moments and events that make up the college experience. He made a significant contribution to the College’s photo archives. In 2009 the College art gallery held a 30-year retrospective of his Davidson photos.

While chronicling college life was his profession, his greatest achievements may have been building a family, and serving his community in many ways. In 1981 he married Ellen Weber. They met riding in the back of a pickup truck on the way to a picnic at Stone Mountain with mutual friends. It wasn’t love at first sight. “I actually had my eye on his roommate,” Ellen said. “But as I got to know this kind, quirky, intrepid adventurer, I knew that he was a “oner” and that life with him would never be dull!”

During their 43-year marriage, they had two children, Jenny and Luke, and became part of the fabric of the town of Davidson. Giduz threw himself into a variety of civic activities, ranging from elementary school reading buddy and juggling instructor to founding staffer and editorial board member of the online newspaper NewsofDavidson.org. Believing that safe and affordable housing is the basis for strong communities, Bill got involved with local organizations dedicated to housing issues. He did writing and photography for Habitat for Humanity, Davidson Housing Coalition, the Rotary Club of Lake Norman, and various church efforts at Davidson United Methodist. 

“He published our monthly letter and was at house builds,” recalled Paul Leonard, who worked with Giduz for a decade at the Davidson Habitat for Humanity. Leonard went on to become a member of the international board of Habitat for Humanity, chairing it for two years, in addition to serving as interim CEO. “Bill was just always there to help us get the word out and get known in the community.”

Giduz was a recipient of the Town of Davidson’s Jack Burney Community Service Award for his positive impact on the town and its residents. Davidson College recognized him with its Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award, for “unselfish service without due recognition.”

While Giduz enjoyed skiing, pickup basketball, bowling, and cycling—and even skydiving and spelunking–he made his biggest impact in juggling. 

After joining a fledgling group in Atlanta, he became active in the International Jugglers Association, applying his journalist’s skills to the organization’s management. He served as editor of Juggler’s World magazine from 1979-1996, and as president and a board member of the IJA. He’s credited with inventing “joggling”—simultaneously running and juggling—at one of the organization’s competitions. He helped organize local juggling groups and taught an accredited Phys. Ed. juggling class at Davidson. His love of juggling carried over to his family. His children remember being his “juggling props,” Luke, his son, said.  “He used to juggle us as babies along with two balls,” added his daughter, Jenny. His love of juggling is immortalized in a bench placed by the juggling community on the Davidson Village Green where he spent so many Sunday afternoons juggling and making new friends.

In addition to his wife and children, he is survived by his younger brothers Bob Giduz (Lee Carol) of Asheville and Tom Giduz (Betsy) of Chapel Hill, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews.

Memorial gifts may be made to the Habitat for Humanity of the Charlotte region website, at the Davidson Housing Coalition website, at the Davidson United Methodist Church website, or any other cause of your choice

The funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 18 at the Davidson United Methodist Church, with a reception to follow.

(Editors’ note: It is with such sadness that the editorial board of News of Davidson says goodbye to Bill Giduz. Bill was one of our founders, and his photography and writing illuminated our efforts and elevated us with his consistent excellence, insight, wisdom, and artistic talent. He was a beloved colleague and dear friend. He helped our readers see into life here with stories and photographs of citizens and organizations. No one ever loved this town more than Bill or gave it more of himself. We will miss him deeply.

David Cain of the International Jugglers Association wrote an obituary about Bill and we want to share a link to it.)

Katie Oliver Early spent her last days much as she spent her whole life—making puns, cracking jokes, bopping to the music, and expressing love and appreciation to those around her. She took her last, peaceful breath July 26 at her home in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, surrounded by family and friends. Katie’s transition leaves an enormous hole in the lives of those who were fortunate to know and love her, who will cherish many fond memories of love and laughter. 

Family and friends were always at the center of Katie’s life. She was an exceptionally loving, supportive and encouraging mother to her children, Christopher and Meghan, and stepson, Cully; a delighted, doting grandmother to Isabel and Olivia; and a loyal, loving wife to Andy Little, her husband of 24 years. She welcomed her children’s stepmother, Carol McLaurin, and spouses—Deven Crock, Daniel Rodriguez, and Zack Coles—into the family with extraordinary warmth. 

Katie could always be counted on to bring the silly to family gatherings, such as staging family Christmas photos with ridiculous costumes, supplying gag gifts, and organizing games that soon had everyone laughing. She treasured her sibling trips with Peggy and Gene and regular family get-togethers at the Brownie House in Montreat, including participating in the annual July 4th parade. 

Katie made friends easily, forging an immediate heart connection with everyone she met and generously going out of her way to be sure everyone felt appreciated and included. She had an especially close bond with her beloved Bad Girls, with whom she shared many trips to the beach, mountains and elsewhere, and many happy times, fueled by good food, mediocre wine, and boisterous laughter. They will continue to hold her close, to play the word games she loved, and to heartily celebrate the love that binds them together with Katie forever. 

Katie was born in Memphis, Tennessee, on June 24, 1952, the youngest child of Ladye Margaret and Gene Early. From Katie’s early childhood, her mother called her by the treasured nickname ‘blithe spirit’ for her bubbly, irrepressible personality. She maintained that infectious exuberance and enthusiasm throughout her life. 

Katie always loved horses. She was an avid rider as a youth and seized every opportunity to be on horseback throughout her life, in places as diverse as Puerto Rico, New Zealand and Scotland.

From her earliest days, Katie was endlessly curious about the world and its people, and always up for adventure. She began exploring the world in earnest while attending Davidson College, where she majored in African Studies and Political Science. She was an exchange student in Ghana and later, with her first husband, Tim McLaurin, lived and worked in Tunisia as a Peace Corps Volunteer. She recalled that these life-changing opportunities broadened her horizons immeasurably, giving her a deep appreciation for the beauty and diversity of humanity. 

Katie spent four decades in the nonprofit sector, both internationally and domestically. She led the global nonprofit Ipas at a critical time in its development, significantly advancing attention to the neglected, preventable tragedy of unsafe abortion. Katie was well known within her field for inspiring, out-of-the-box thinking focused on improving the lives of women and families. With her close friend and colleague Ann Hogan Leonard, she created a workplace culture at Ipas that was warm and caring, while focused on excellence, and that spawned deep, long-lasting friendships across the globe. In 2014, the Planned Parenthood Action Fund of Central North Carolina bestowed its highest honor on Katie with the Margaret Sanger Award for lifetime achievement in the reproductive health and rights movement.

Katie’s career also included helping entrepreneurs in North Carolina learn the basics of business start-up. She volunteered extensively in her community in support of public education and the wellbeing of critically ill patients and their families. While president of the SECU Family House at UNC Hospitals, she oversaw completion of a 40-room home away from home for families of patients receiving critical care at UNC hospitals. 

In recent years, Katie enthusiastically explored photography and other forms of visual expression. She took great pleasure in improving her skills and sharing her vision, including as an active member of the Chapel Hill Camera Club. Ever an entrepreneur herself, she created a line of notecards, prints, calendars, and fabric design featuring her images. To her last days, she had many plans for building her artistic practice, as a way to share beauty and joy with others. 

Katie was preceded in death by her parents, Ladye Margaret Craddock Early Arnold and Eugene Early, and her stepfather, Dr. Van M. Arnold. She is survived by her husband, Andy Little; daughter, Meghan McLaurin Rodriguez and spouse Daniel; son, Christopher McLaurin and spouse Deven Crock; stepson, Cully Little and spouse Zack Coles; sister, Peggy Williamson and spouse Jim; brother, Gene Early and spouse Benedicte; stepbrothers, Bill Arnold and spouse Margaret Anne Fohl and Van M. Arnold and spouse Ellen; grandchildren, Isabel and Olivia Rodriguez; and countless other relatives and friends.

Katie’s family is deeply grateful to the UNC Hospitals surgical, radiation, and medical oncology teams for their care over the last year, as well as the wonderful support at home provided by Arosa and Amedisys Hospice. Katie asked that those inspired to make a memorial gift consider donating to Ipas, PORCH Hillsborough, the Chapel Hill Camera Club, or a charity of their choice. Condolences may be offered online at https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/katieo.early.  A special email address has also been created to collect memories, stories and photos of Katie.  Please send those to ourblithespirit@gmail.com.

Katie was loving and playful to the end. As her journey continues, her blithe spirit will always live in the hearts of those who love her. 

James “Jimmy” Hankinson, of Tallahassee, Florida, departed this life on July 6, 2023, following a hard-fought battle against Glioblastoma, a type of brain cancer.

Jimmy is survived by his wife of 48 years, Allison Burns Hankinson; children, Clay (Jess) Hankinson, Marnie (Byron) Watson, and Jenny (Brad) Slocum; seven grandchildren, Avery, Perry, Cole, Turner, Henry, Charlie and Brooks; sisters, Mary (Russel) Dingman, Margaret Spontak, and sister-in-law, Gail Hankinson. Jimmy was predeceased by parents, John Henry and Shirley Hankinson; brother, Johnny Hankinson; and brother-in-law, Vincent Spontak.

Jimmy was born on July 8, 1952, in Ocala, Florida where he grew up spending summers fishing on Lake Tomahawk in the Ocala National Forest. He attended Davidson College in North Carolina, where he played center on the Davidson Wildcats football team. Following college graduation in 1974, Jimmy married his wife and partner for life, Allison. He taught School in North Carolina before moving to Tallahassee to attend FSU Law School. He graduated with honors in 1978 and remained an avid Seminole fan.

Following law school, Jimmy began his legal career as a prosecutor in Milton, Florida, and returned to Tallahassee in 1981 working for the 2nd Judicial Circuit. In 1991, Jimmy continued his prosecutorial career with the US Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Florida. Jimmy was awarded the Director’s award by the US Department of Justice, one of its highest recognitions. In 2002 Jimmy was appointed a circuit judge for the 2nd Judicial Circuit where he presided for the remainder of his legal career.

He loved the outdoors, fishing, hunting, and “working” on his farm, Sycamore. Jimmy implemented the Therapy Dog in the Courtroom Program, volunteered for the FSU Mock Trial competitions, and belonged to the Kiwanis Club. He was an active member and eucharistic minister for Good Shepherd Catholic Church. Despite his demanding career and many activities, he always put family first; coaching, attending countless games, and organizing the next family gathering.

A memorial service will be held at Good Shepherd Catholic Church, 4665 Thomasville Road, Tallahassee, on Thursday, July 13th at 2 pm. A reception for family and friends will immediately follow the service at the Church Community Center. A family burial will be held at Prairie Creek Conservation Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Jimmy’s name to Brain Tumor Network (https://www.braintumornetwork.org) or Glioblastoma Research Organization (https://www.gbmresearch.org).