Category: 1976

Benjamin Culver Hedrick, 69, of Matthews passed away August 5th, 2023.

Born November 4th, 1953, Ben was the son of the late Bruce and Waunetta Hedrick of Asheboro. He grew up in Asheboro, graduating as a Blue Comet, Class of 1972. Blessed with a natural athletic talent, Ben played football, earning a scholarship which he used to attend Davidson College, where he continued to play football while learning just enough to earn his degree in Psychology. Ben moved to the Charlotte/Matthews area where he had been a resident for over 40 years.

In addition to being blessed with athletic talent, Ben was blessed with an uncanny sense of humor and the ability to relate to people. Using these skills, he became a successful salesman in industrial equipment, working for Pande Controls, Mechanical Supply Company and Eastern. When not working, he enjoyed beach music, shagging, motorcycle cruising and enhancing his connoisseur skills of hot dog appreciation (of which Green’s was the premier outlet of this fine cuisine). Most of all, Ben was a people person who enjoyed the time spent with family and friends. Whether bellyflopping off the lifeguard stand at the local pool or just spending time at the pool with his kids, time with others was always enjoyed and will forever be remembered.

Ben prided himself on being the cool uncle to his nieces and nephew. He was an incredible friend who cherished every relationship he had no matter how long he may have known you; some that date back to high school. He carried on lessons from his adoring parents, and created a beautiful life. He will be missed by so many. The world is a little dimmer, heaven is a little brighter, and barbecue will never taste quite the same.

Ben is survived by a daughter Hayley Hedrick; son Maxwell Hedrick; and the mother of his children, Molly Hedrick. Their love for him knows no bounds. In addition, he is survived by his brother and best friend, Bart (wife Kathy) Hedrick, who will miss him dearly; as well as numerous other relatives and friends, including nieces and a nephew who saw him as a cool uncle. Ben was preceded in death by his parents.

Ben’s family has given the family of Lowe-Neddo Funeral Home the privilege of caring for him and for them.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home, 4715 Margaret Wallace Road, Matthews, from 10 am until 11 am on Saturday, August 12. At 11 am, services will be held in the funeral home chapel. A reception will follow with location to be provided.

Services will be livestreamed, please return to funeral home website Saturday morning for the link.

A private interment at Randolph Memorial Park will take place at a later date.

David Cormak, 69, dear son of the late Robert and Lenore Cormak, beloved husband to Twyla Cormak, and loving father to Katelyn Cormak Taylor (Zach) and Regan Cormak, passed away on July 27, 2023.

David was born on July 7, 1954 in Lakewood, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland, to Robert and Lenore Cormak. He was the only child of two only children, making him the only grandchild to his grandparents. He was loved and doted on by his family growing up, and his nickname became “Darling David.” Despite all that concentrated attention, he grew up thoughtful and kind. In 1967, when Dave was in middle school, the Cormak family relocated to Chesterfield, Missouri. Dave attended Parkway Central Middle and High Schools and then Davidson College in Davidson, North Carolina where he majored in Psychology. He had a great love for the humanities and studied abroad throughout Europe for a deeper dive into those subjects. After he graduated from Davidson, he moved to Dallas, Texas to pursue his graduate degree at Southern Methodist University where he got his MBA.

After graduate school, Dave worked as a staffing recruiter for a few years, before taking a job in Human Resources at RepublicBank Dallas, where he met Twyla. Dave and Twyla married in 1986. They had two daughters; Katelyn in 1989 and Regan in 1993. In 1997, they relocated for Dave’s job change within the bank and moved to Chesterfield, Missouri. Dave continued to work for the bank, which eventually became Bank of America, for 37 years. He worked in Compliance and then Risk Management before his retirement in 2019. Dave loved his work, mainly for the many amazing people he worked shoulder-to-shoulder with. Dave’s job required him to travel around the country and even several trips to China, allowing him to develop delightful relationships with people throughout the bank. Many of his employees, colleagues and bosses have remarked on what a mentor, cheerleader and encourager he was to them. He left a great legacy there through the many people he impacted.

Dave was always active in sports. In high school he wrestled, was on the track team, and played football. He loved playing racquetball in college and throughout his twenties and thirties. He also loved to ski, and the family took several fun ski trips together. Throughout the years, tennis and golf were two of his favorite activities, mostly because of the fun he had with his friends on and off the court/green. In retirement, he was playing tennis four to five times a week and golfing once a week. One of his tennis buddies said Dave always knew the right thing to say to people to make them feel good about themselves.

Travel was a deep love of Dave’s. Vacations took months to plan, and were enjoyed to the fullest. When the girls were younger, the family took a vacation to Disney World, and afterwards Dave always enticed the girls with other, new locations so he didn’t have to go back. As the girls were growing up, the family visited Steamboat Springs, Colorado; Las Vegas; beaches in the Carolinas, the Riviera Maya in Mexico and the Dominican Republic; England; Hawaii; New York City; Italy; San Francisco and Santa Fe. When Twyla had a year-long international work assignment in Canada, Dave would visit, and they enjoyed spending time in Toronto and seeing Niagara Falls and Montreal.

As empty nesters, Dave and Twyla went on some amazing trips together where they met so many interesting people. They went on cruises on the Danube and Douro Rivers, plus small boat cruises to Venice and the Dalmatian coast and Nice and the Amalfi coast. They toured the Grand, Bryce, and Zion Canyons. They took driving trips across the country, including visits to their daughters and friends. Last year, Dave traveled to Cincinnati, Ohio with a tennis friend for the Western and Southern tennis tournament and was able to see some of his favorite professional tennis players play. Dave and Twyla’s last trip together was in May, and they had a wonderful time traveling throughout Portugal and Spain.

Dave and Twyla have attended Chesterfield Presbyterian Church since 2004. Dave was involved with the men’s discipleship program, and it became a wonderful way for him to further develop his personal relationship with our amazing Savior, Jesus. He was blessed to share that journey and develop deep friendships with the men in his group. Through that program they discussed their spiritual gifts, and Dave shared that he wanted “To use my spiritual gifts of enthusiasm and energy to serve the Lord by encouraging, coaching and motivating others to see God’s hand in their lives as they accomplish their goals and aspirations.” We were all blessed by the expression of Dave’s spiritual gifts in his devotion to others, and he will be deeply missed.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, August 4, 2023, at 11:00 a.m.
Chesterfield Presbyterian Church
15037 Clayton Road
Chesterfield, Missouri 63017
If you are unable to attend in person, a livestream link for the service will be available on the Chesterfield Presbyterian Church website (www.chespres.org).

Thomas Douglas “Doug” Traver passed away on October 14, 2020 in Jacksonville, Florida. No other information is available at this time.

Robert L. Mendenhall of Davidson, NC died peacefully on Thursday, July 14, 2022, one day short of his 68th birthday, surrounded by family and friends. He was born and raised in Greensboro, NC, the third son of the late Margaret and Charles Mendenhall.
Bob graduated from Grimsley High School in 1972, and from Davidson College in 1976 with a degree in economics and great stories from being a Wildcat cheerleader. He spent several special summers in the 1970s as a swimming instructor and counselor at Camp Alleghany for Girls in the West Virginia mountains. After Davidson, Bob worked for NCNB as a field auditor in eastern North Carolina. He then earned his MBA and law degrees at UNC-Chapel Hill in 1983, where he was a member of the Law Review.
Bob had a distinguished career as a tax lawyer in Charlotte, practicing at Helms Mulliss & Johnston, Smith Helms Mulliss & Moore, Mayer Brown, and Holland & Knight. He was highly regarded by colleagues and clients not only for highly sophisticated legal work in the areas of tax credit transactions and non-profit organizations, but also for his servant leadership and unsurpassed collegiality. Bob was an important model for younger lawyers in his firms by leading innumerable pro bono practice efforts and projects. For more than 32 years, he served as pro bono general counsel of DreamKey Partners (formerly the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Housing Partnership), an organization committed to equity in housing to which he was deeply devoted.
The undisputed light and love of Bob’s life was his daughter, Lauren. He loved her deeply and made sure everyone knew it. Bob was devoted to his bonus children and grandchildren (who knew him as “Pop Pop”): Kristen Fresco (Charlie) and their children Jackson and Mikayla of Fayetteville, NC, and Matt Miller (Liz) and their children McKenna, Brayden and Lucas of Morehead City, NC, all of whom returned that devotion in full measure. Bob is also survived by his brothers, Chuck Mendenhall (Laura) of Austin, TX and Ray Mendenhall (Ann) of Versailles, KY and beloved nieces and nephews Maury Mendenhall (Andrew Miller), Matt Mendenhall (Marcy) and Sheena Roller (Ben) and their progeny. Bob was preceded in death by his nephew, Nathan Mendenhall (Shanna Dickens). Special cousins and lifelong friends to Bob were Ward Pritchett (Karen) of Charlotte and their children Sarah Branham (Drew) and Jack Pritchett (Letra Baehr), and Kay Motley (Dwight) of Mt. Holly, NC and their daughter, Leigh Pitman (Josh).
Bob appreciated Seagrove pottery, ran a marathon, gave enormous poinsettias at Christmas, was a tad messy, a dear uncle and godfather, and a great companion for his dog, Bo. The recent words of two dear Davidson friends are echoed by everyone who knew, and therefore loved, Bob Mendenhall: “he was the kindest, sweetest friend I ever had,” and “if the world had more people like him, it would be a better place.”
Bob’s family and friends are grateful to the team of skilled caregivers at the Atrium Main Cardiac ICU and the Sanger Clinic for their compassion and care in Bob’s last days.
A service celebrating Bob’s life will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, August 5, 2022 in Lingle Chapel at Davidson College Presbyterian Church, with a reception immediately following in the Lilly Family Gallery in Chambers Building at Davidson College.
Memorials may be offered in Bob’s honor and memory to DreamKey Partners, 4601 Charlotte Park Drive, Suite 350, Charlotte NC 28217.
Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC 28204; (704) 641-7606. Online condolences may be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.

Larry Donnell Hardaway, age 67, was born March 7, 1954, in Winter Haven, Florida.

Larry Hardaway attended Winter Haven High School and graduated in 1972. At Winter Haven High School he played four sports; football, basketball, baseball and track. He was the first African American president of a senior class at Winter Haven High School and was named “best all around” as a senior notable. In 1971 he attended the Florida Boys State. He received several recognitions and was one of two nominated as governor of the state conference.

He accepted a football scholarship to study and play football at Davidson College in 1972. He was the third African American to ever play football for Davidson College. He graduated from Davidson in 1976 with a BA degree in Political Science. Larry Hardaway was awarded the James P. Hendrix Award by Davidson College. He was the first African American to receive that award.

In 1976, he attended the University of Florida Law School and graduated in 1979 with a JD degree.

He started his first job at the State Attorney’s Office in Bartow, Florida, in August of 1979, becoming an Assistant State Attorney.

In 1980, at the age of 26, he ran for the Polk County School Board though he lost this first attempt at public office.

In September of 1983, he left Polk County and began working for JESCA Legal Division in Miami, Florida. He eventually became managing attorney of that office where he represented public entities and businesses. At JESCA Legal, he provided legal services for the newly created Business Assistance Center assisting in the creation of small and minority businesses.

In 1984, he received the Dade County Bars Public Interest Law Bank Award for providing legal services to public entities and businesses. For the next three years he provided volunteer service to the City of Opa Locka receiving numerous awards for his service.

In 1988 he returned to Polk County working for the Public Defender’s Office and the State Attorney’s Office. He began private practice in 1992.

In 1994, he was appointed the Florida Elections Commission for a three year term by Governor Lawton Childs.

In 1996, he was an Adjunct Professor instructing business law for Warner Southern College, in Lake Wales, Florida.

In 1998, he was President of the Polk County Voters League.

In February of 2000, he received the Florida Bar’s Pro Bono Award for the 10th Judicial Circuit for providing pro bono services to his community.

In April of 2012, he received the Heman Sweatt Award from the National Bar Association.

In November of 2012, he received the James P Hendrix award from Davidson College.

In June 2013, he was inducted into the Polk County School’s Hall of Fame.

He practiced personal injury law and criminal law at the law firm of Larry D. Hardaway & Associates, P.A. in Lakeland, Florida.

He was married with three adult children, two grandsons and resided in Lakeland, Florida.

Former Activities:

• President of Polk County Voters League
• Volunteered as a poll watcher during elections
• Member and Past President of the Virgil Hawkins Bar Association
• Member of the Florida Bar Association
• Member of the Lakeland Bar Association
• Member of the Polk County Criminal Defense Lawyers
• Life Member of the NAACP
• Life Member of Florida A&M University Alumni
• Member of University of Florida Alumni
• Member of the Davidson College Alumni
• Member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Mu Zeta Lambda chapter
• Member of First Missionary Baptist Church, Winter Haven, FL
• Member of League of Women Voters of Lakeland
• Member of Rose Heights Elk’s Lodge #318
• Member of Citrus Center Boys Club
• Member of Habitat for Humanity
• Member of Lakeland Downtown Kiwanis Club
• Board Member of Polk State College Foundation
• Member of Polk County Inns of Court
• Instructor and Judge for Polk County Teen Court

The Larry D. Hardaway Celebration of Life and Memorial Service for the public will be held on Friday, October 1, 2021 at 3:00 p.m. at Victory Church, 1401 Griffin Road, Lakeland, Florida 33810. Directions

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established with the GiveWell Community Foundation.
Links to Donor Portal are:
givecf.org/donate
https://www.givecf.org/donate/