Carole Hendrix Grady

Carole Hendrix Grady of Concord, North Carolina, completed her earthly mission and was called to her heavenly home on the morning of February 3, 2022, after a hard-fought and courageous two-year battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Her family surrounded her with an outpouring of profound love and whispered prayers as she peacefully left them to claim her heavenly reward.

She grew up in Reidsville, North Carolina, as the daughter of the late William “Bill” Hendrix and Margaret “Peg” Hendrix. She was one of four children. She graduated from Reidsville Senior High School and then entered Wake Forest where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education and Health Sciences.

She excelled there as an Outstanding Senior, Secretary of the Student Body, and Magnolia Queen. She belonged to SOPH society. Her Mag 7 friends remained lifelong friends, gathering often during each year and for annual retreats all over the country for nearly two decades. During COVID, they retained their connection throughout biweekly Zoom sessions.

The summer after graduation from Wake Forest, she married the love of her life, Tom Grady. They were married for 56 years and raised three children: twin daughters, Anne and Anita, and a son, Bill. Seven grandchildren followed and became the joy of their lives.

Before she began her favorite job of raising her family, she was an educator for Kannapolis City Schools where she established a reading program for elementary students and taught Junior Great Books. She never left her love of the classroom and returned daily as a highly valued and esteemed volunteer to teach reading alongside her daughters at Irvin Elementary School.

For over fifteen years, she was the office manager for Williams, Boger, Grady, Davis & Tuttle Law Offices in Kannapolis and Concord.

She was a faithful member of Saint James Lutheran Church where she joined the Mary Magdalene Circle, taught Sunday School, led various Bible studies, implemented the Wednesdays at noon services, and led the music for the contemporary service. For over twenty years, she organized and led the church youth on mission trips throughout the southeastern United States.

She was a gentle soul, a genuine friend, a genial companion, and a gracious hostess who was warm and welcoming. She elevated note writing to an art form. She was an exceptional encourager to everyone she met. She traveled extensively with her pilot husband, produced incredible art, and organized their cabin by Lake Norman where the family entertained friends and neighbors over their lifetime together there.

She gleefully shared her penchant for discovering “I SPY,” always pointing out to others the unexpected and the joyful, declaring them “gifts from God.” Her garden of flowers, her walks with her precious “Doogie” dog, her captivating hummingbirds, her glorious orchids all convey the depth of her talent as she engaged nature.

Her greatest friend was Jesus, and she lived her life to be His hands and feet. She was an incredible example of grace and service, inspiring all as they observed her steadfast devotion to her Lord. She was bold in her witness, always seeking to give God the glory.

Her cancer journey gave those around her an opportunity to view her great faith. A OneBlood drive in her honor produced seventy units of blood and platelets for which she was humbled and grateful.

Survivors include her husband, Thomas Myers Grady, of the home; daughters Anne Grady Eury (Tony), Anita Grady Jones (Jeff), son, William “Bill” Grady (Veronica); grandchildren, Margaret Eury Ford (Reavis), John Eury, Myers Jones (Savannah), Sam Jones and Helen Jones, Orietta Grady and Thomas Grady, all of Concord; brother Houston Hendrix (Pat) of Wrightsville Beach, sister, Anne Hendrix of Blowing Rock, and brother-in-law, Joe Grady, of Concord. She also was “Mom” to a special daughter through a foreign exchange program, Nicole Müller (Martin) and their daughter Charlotte of Köln, Germany.

Preceding her in death in addition to her parents was a brother Neil Hendrix, all of Reidsville.

Visitation will be at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday afternoon, February 6, at Wilkinson Funeral Home, 100 Branchview Drive, NE, Concord, NC 28025.

A celebration of life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, February 7, at Saint James Lutheran Church, 104 Union Street South, Concord, NC 28025. Masks are encouraged. A link for a video stream of the celebration will be posted on the church website, www.SJNC.net .

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in memory of Carole to one of her favorite organizations. Saint James Lutheran Church, PO Box 684, Concord, NC 28026, OneBlood, 363 Church Street, North, #170 Concord, NC 28025, or Opportunity House, 72 Corbin Avenue, Concord, NC 28025.