May 13, 1939 – November 6, 2024
Robert Linwood Hedgpeth, 85, died on Thursday, November 6, 2024, at Shoreland Health & Retirement Center in Whiteville, NC. Linwood was born on May 13, 1939, son of the late Joseph Wynn Hedgpeth and Myree Huggins Hedgpeth.Linwood was inducted into the NC Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame on January 15, 2024; the Greater Chamber of Wilmington Athletic Hall of Fame on May 5, 2019; the UNC Pembroke Athletic Hall of Fame as a player, October 27, 2023; the North Carolina High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame on August 17, 2024.
Hedgpeth compiled a record of 439–217 in 23 seasons as a head baseball coach. He won state championships at Hallsboro in 1975 and 1978. He would later bring Whiteville High School its first baseball title in 1983 and earn additional championships in 1985 and 1989. His various baseball teams won 16 conference championships.
Memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 9, 2024, at Worthington Funeral Home at 6:00 p.m. with Bishop Staccato Powell officiating.
Visitation will be held prior to the service from 4:30 p.m. until the time of the service.
He is survived by his sisters, Jennie Britt (Kenneth) of Evergreen and Margie Smedley (John) of New Bern; and a special thanks to his caregivers, Timmy Britt, Stan Bush and Charlene Bush.
