Baxter Freeze

HIGH POINT - Mr. Baxter Freeze, 83, died Monday, Dec. 15, 2003, after a brief illness at his home at River Landing at Sandy Ridge. He was born May 31, 1920. He was a native of High Point and in 1995 retired after 52 years as chairman of Commonwealth Hosiery Mills, Inc. in Randleman. A graduate of Woodberry Forest School in 1938 and Davidson College in 1942, he served in World War II as a first lieutenant in Ordnance AMMO Joe Co. "D" in North Africa, Italy, France and Germany. A member of St. Mary's Episcopal Church since 1953, he served on the vestry and as senior warden. He also enjoyed his involvement with the Boy Scouts through the Uwharrie Council, his relationship as a founding director and director emeritus at Culp Inc., and his involvement in the development of Willow Creek. Surviving are his wife, Anne Carter Freeze, of River Landing at Sandy Ridge; a daughter, Anne Hollingsworth Freeze Kirby of Eutawville, S.C.; two sons, B. Parks Freeze Jr. and his wife, Jane, of High Point and John Edwin Carter Freeze and his wife, Jodi, of Orange Park, Fla.; eight grandchildren, Baxter Parks Freeze III of Athens, Ga., Michelle Maynard and husband, John Harris, of High Point, Abigail and husband, David Shean, of Thomasville, Anne Hollingsworth Kirby and Mary Pendarvis Kirby of Euthawville, S.C., John Edwin Freeze and Christopher Robert Freeze of Cary and Allie Elizabeth Freeze of Orange Park, Fla.; and three great-grandchildren, Alexander Dean Connette, Amanda Gail Connette and Tyler Benjamin Shean of Thomasville. A memorial service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 18, at St. Mary's Episcopal Church in High Point by Dr. Glenn Busch. Inurnment will be in the church columbarium. A visitation is scheduled from 7 to 8:30 p.m. today, Dec. 17, at Sechrest Funeral Home in High Point. Memorials may be directed to the Alzheimer's Association, Piedmont Chapter, or to St. Mary's Episcopal Church, designated for the Columbarium renovation.