Obituary of Marcia McCollum Hebrank

Marcia

Known for her kindness and emotional insight, Marcia McCollum Hebrank was a mother of four and grandmother of two. She was a social worker, psychotherapist, poet, spiritual healer, and teacher. She was born and raised on Southern Illinois farmlands by loving parents and an extended family of aunts, uncles, and cousins. Growing up, she was known for her intelligence and musical talent as a singer, pianist, and flutist. After moving to North Carolina, she graduated from UNC Chapel Hill with Highest Honors and Distinction in Psychology. In 1993, she also earned a Master’s Degree in Social Work from UNC. Marcia was dedicated and hardworking, supporting two young children by herself and holding a full-time job while in school. After finishing her degrees, she worked as a Child and Family Therapist in Sylva and Wilmington, an addictions therapist for the UNC Horizons Program, a middle school social worker in Hillsborough, and a home health and hospice social worker for Amedisys and Liberty Home Care & Hospice in Durham.

Marcia is widely known as a spiritual healer and teacher. As a child, she “knew” when people would die and shut off that talent when a high school friend died in a car crash. In 2000, she cared for her dying mother for two years, which became an intense spiritual experience for her. She was led to learn and practice Reiki, a hands-on healing method, with Vicki Penninger in Raleigh. In 2006, she met the “love of her life,” Jack Hebrank, and they formed an active business teaching and practicing spiritual healing.  They became faculty members of the Foundation for Shamanic Studies. In 2015, they met Doreen Virtue and incorporated her work with Angels into their healing practice and teaching.   

Marcia is preceded in death by her mother Jane Mann McCollum and father James “Bud” McCollum. Marcia is survived by her husband, Jack Hebrank; sister, Janet Settich; brother, Brad Ledbetter; daughters, Jennifer Jane Housand, Cynthia Schlessinger, and Grace Shou; son, Colin Ware; and granddaughters, Emma Jane Meares and Sophia Uriel Schlessinger.  Marcia loved spending time with family at the beach, and holidays were always a joyful occasion with huge meals and lots of laughter. She is also survived by her beloved dogs, Max and Jack. Why Jack Jr. was given the same name as her husband is a story for another time.

Marcia and Jack are very grateful to all the friends, students and clients who helped out with food, prayers and healing during Marcia’s six-month illness. A funeral service will be held at Walker’s Funeral Home in Chapel Hill at 2PM on Sunday, February 26. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Marcia’s favorite charity, Independent Animal Rescue of Durham.