John Thad Hedrick

John Thad Hedrick, 86, of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, passed away peacefully on December 1, 2022. He was loved by all who met him—he always had a twinkle in his eye and a smile on his face.

John was born in Ellinwood, Kansas, to Orville Deville Hedrick and Esther Laura Snelling Hedrick.  John attended the University of Kansas where he served as the president of his fraternity, Phi Delta Theta, and maintained a close relationship with his pledge class through regular reunions for the past 60+ years. He graduated from University of Kansas in 1958 with a BS in Industrial Management. He later obtained an MBA from University of Connecticut and a M.S. in Personal Financial Planning from Georgia State University. He began his career with IBM in Kansas City. His IBM career took him to Springfield, Missouri, Stamford, Connecticut, and finally to Atlanta, Georgia.  Following his corporate career with IBM he worked as a consultant specializing in business process analysis and change management.

He and his wife Jan raised their family in Atlanta and were residents and active community members for 50 years.  He was involved in a variety of civic organizations including Board President of the Georgia Council of Camp Fire Boys and Girls Club, Atlanta United Way, the Community Assistance Center, and his church Holy Innocents’ where he served as the Endowment Treasurer, was a member of the Finance Committee, the Vestry, and was a Stephen Minister. After moving with his wife to Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, in 2019 to be closer to his son and daughter, he volunteered weekly at Roper Hospital and faithfully attended Grace Church Cathedral.    

He was predeceased by Jan Rodgers Hedrick, his wife of 60 years.  He leaves behind his son, Graham Rodgers Hedrick, his daughter Sarah Hedrick Kearney, his son-in-law Patrick J. Kearney, and his three grandchildren, Patrick J. Kearney, Jr., Meghan E. Kearney, and Bryce H. Kearney.

The service of Celebration and Thanksgiving of Life will be held on Thursday, December 29, 2022, at 2:00 pm at Grace Church Cathedral, 98 Wentworth Street, Charleston, South Carolina. A private internment will immediately follow at Mount Pleasant Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in John’s memory may be made to the Lowcountry Food Bank https://lowcountryfoodbank.org/donate/