Dr. Henry Walter Abernethy

1929 - 2020

Dr. Henry Walter Abernethy

January 27, 1929 - October 25, 2020

Henry Walter Abernethy, 91, died Oct. 25, 2020, at home in Hickory.

He was born in Rocky Mount, Jan. 27, 1929, to the late John Allison Abernethy Sr. and Mattie Lipe Abernethy. He grew up in Hickory, graduated from Hickory High School in 1947, and Lenoir-Rhyne College in 1951. Dr. Abernethy attended medical school at the UNC at Chapel Hill, where he fell in love with Joyce Pierce, who was a charge nurse in Labor and Delivery. They married and moved to Charleston, S.C., in 1955, where he completed a rotating internship and Joyce taught nursing at The Medical University of South Carolina. The couple moved to San Juan, Puerto Rico, where Dr. Abernethy served as a physician at Rodriguez U.S. Army Hospital for 2 years. Their first child, Lisa, was born there.

In 1959, the family settled in Hickory, where their second daughter, Kimberly was born. Dr. Abernethy initially worked with Dr. Frye at Richard Baker Hospital (now Frye Regional Medical Center), where he practiced general medicine, assisted in surgery, and delivered hundreds of babies during his early years. He opened his own medical practice on Springs Road, where he practiced many years, sharing call with good friend, Dr. Dan Espey. He later relocated his practice to northwest Hickory, where he practiced until his retirement in 2008. Dr. Abernethy cherished many relationships with office and hospital staff, other physicians, and especially with his patients, during his nearly 50 year career. He was a member of First United Methodist Church and Hickory Rotary Club. He also served as secretary on the board of a small pharmaceutical company and enthusiastically embraced the business world.

Dr. Abernethy had a great love for Africa and fulfilled a life-long dream by traveling to Kenya in 1964 with his cousin M.P. Lipe Jr. Years later, he traveled to Tanzania with daughter, Kimberly and good friends Jim and Pat Furlong to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. Henry was fiercely proud of his Scottish heritage. He took many trips to England and Scotland with his wife, daughters, life-long friends, Jim Furlong and Jim Phillips, brother, Allison and nephews Walter and John. He had boundless enthusiasm for Scottish and English history, a wonderful sense of humor and extraordinary storytelling skills. He would laugh so hard while telling a joke that he couldn't finish it!

Dr. Abernethy was preceded in death by his wife, Joyce Pierce Abernethy; and brother, John Allison Abernethy Jr.

He is survived by his two daughters, Lisa Abernethy Christman and husband, Roger, and Kimberly Abernethy Loveless and husband, Larry; grandchildren, William Abernethy Christman, Caroline Pierce Christman, Rebecca Loveless, Jacob Loveless and wife, Kelly; sister, Mary Bradley; and many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank John Abernethy and Alice Martin who have faithfully visited Henry several times a week over the years, playing cards, laughing with him, and brightening his days. We also thank Essie Johnson for her friendship and all of the delicious meals she prepared for Henry. We thank Amanda Inman who worked by his side for many years in his medical practice. In the recent weeks, we would like to thank Carolina Caring for the Hospice care he received. Lastly, we owe a debt of gratitude to Wanda Bivens and all of the wonderful people who have so selflessly and lovingly cared for Henry in his home during his later years. While each caregiver has become an integral part of our family, we give special thanks to those who made his final months at home so peaceful.

A private graveside service will be held at a later date.

Memorials may be made to The Mustang Heritage Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) public, charitable, nonprofit dedicated to placing America's excess wild Mustangs and burros into private care, P.O. Box 979, Georgetown, Texas 78627.

www.bass-smithfuneralhome.com