Obituary of Eugene Walden Hackney

Eugene Walden Hackney

July 21, 1932 – August 30,2023

Eugene Walden Hackney, a resident of Croasdaile Village in Durham, NC, formerly of Lumberton, NC,  died on Wednesday, August 30, 2023, at age  91.  He was born July 21, 1932, in Sanford, NC to Hoyt Milton Hackney and Alma Walden Hackney.  He was predeceased by his wife of 59 years, Sara Alice Jackson Hackney, and his sister, Carolyn Hackney Bunting. He is survived by his brother, Hoyt Milton Hackney, Jr of High Point, NC; his children, Sally Hackney Barley (Steve) of Baltimore MD, Elizabeth Hackney Whitsel (Eric) of Chapel Hill, NC; his grandchildren, Elizabeth Barley Kameen (JD) of Beaufort, SC, Katherine Barley Ebby (Jack) of Philadelphia, PA and Anne Carlton Whitsel of Boston, MA; and great grandchildren Cotter W. Kameen and Sara Collins Kameen. 

Gene grew up in Sanford, NC graduating from Sanford High School in 1950.  He attended UNC School of Pharmacy, graduating in 1954 and then spent two years of military service in the U. S. Army Preventive Medicine Corp.  While at UNC, he met and later married his classmate and fellow pharmacist Sara Alice Jackson. Together they returned to Lumberton, NC to join the family business, Hedgpeth and North Elm Pharmacies, which they owned and ran until 1997.  

He was an active member of Trinity Episcopal Church serving in many leadership roles throughout the years and was involved in many community and business activities, including the Rotary Club and Friends of the Library.   He also served on the Foundation Board of Directors at the UNC School of Pharmacy and on the Board of North Carolina Mutual Drug Company. 

A kind and loyal friend, he cherished his relationships both old and new.  He loved music, dancing, reminiscing and storytelling, and all things UNC.  Above all , he adored his children and grandchildren. The family wishes to acknowledge the kindness of his many friends and thank the staff of Croasdaile, especially his medical care team in the Pavilion.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Eugene W. and Sara J. Hackney Scholarship Fund , UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy Foundation, 194 Finley Golf Course Rd, Suite 106, Chapel Hill, NC 27517 (online at go.unc.edu/hackney), Croasdaile Village Benevolent Fund, 2600 Croasdaile Farm Parkway, Durham, NC 27705, or Trinity Episcopal Church, 1202 N. Chestnut Street, Lumberton NC 28358.    A memorial service will be held at Croasdaile Village Chapel on Saturday, October 7^th at 2:00 pm.  A reception will follow in the Fassett Auditorium.

The Hackney family is under the care of Walker’s Funeral Home in Chapel Hill, NC.