Maxwell Hedgepeth

Maxwell Hedgepeth PORTSMOUTH - Maxwell Levi "Mac" Hedgepeth, 81, left this earth on April 12, 2010 to be with his Lord and Savior after a full and productive life, but recently after a long battle with many serious health problems. Mac was born in Halifax County, North Carolina on Jan. 31, 1929, to the late Aaron A. and Ora Mabel Hedgepeth, their seventh child. He was predeceased by his two brothers, Albert Hedgepeth and Calvin Hedgepeth; and three sisters, Irene Hux, Thearie Hedgepeth and Lee McAlpine. He served honorably in the U.S. Army from 1951 - 1953. He worked hard all his life to provide for his family including many years of service with Seaboard Railroad, Newport News Shipbuilding and then 21 years with Norfolk Naval Shipyard where he retired as a pipefitter foreman. He spent 21 years in retirement doing the things he really loved, spending time with his family especially his grandchildren, traveling with family and friends, camping, playing cards and "carrying on." He is survived by his loving and caring wife of 49 years, Edith, who was always by his side through sickness and in health; two sons, Stephen Hedgepeth and his wife Susan and Phillip Hedgepeth and girlfriend Shannan St. Hilaire; a sister, Mary Ellen Hundley; four grandsons, Jacob Simmons, Phillip Simmons, Aiden Hedgepeth and Ty Hedgepeth; a granddaughter, Skylar Hedgepeth; a sister- in-law, Lucy Hedgepeth; a brother-in-law, Charlie McAlpine; many nieces, nephews and friends. The family wishes to thank Mrs. Lorrie Hagan who lovingly cared for and befriended Mac during his recent illness as well as his nurses at Heartland Home Health Care, Ms. Kelly Crutchfield and Ms. Ruthie Wilson. The family also wishes to thank Pastor Jim Woodland and the members of Grove Park Baptist Church who have been very faithful and truly the "Hands and Feet of Christ," and Pastor Don Rhoton and members of Smithfield Baptist Church who adopted Mac and Edith in their church family. Though his recent days have been mired in illness and fighting to recover to spend time with family and friends, his life and love were much bigger than his illness. A funeral will be held 1 p.m. Thursday, April 15, at Sturtevant Funeral Home, Portsmouth Blvd. Chapel, by Pastor Jim Woodland. Burial will follow in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends at the funeral home today from 6 to 8 p.m. Memorial donations may be made to Grove Park Baptist Church. www.SturtevantFuneralHome.com.