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CHAPEL HILL, NC – Richard Norfleet (Dicky) Hoggard, a Tar Heel dedicated to his family and community, who had a deep connection to the land he grew up on, explored and farmed, died on December 11, 2023.

Dicky Hoggard was born in Durham, NC, on August 31, 1932, to Ruth May Hoggard and Richard Norfleet Hoggard (“Red”). He grew up in Lewiston, N.C. where his family owned a farming corporation.

After his father died at a young age, he moved to Durham where he went to junior high school. During this time, Dicky was surrounded by his May family, which included beloved uncles, aunts, and girl cousins.

After junior high school, Dicky moved to Ahoskie, NC. He excelled in Ahoskie High School sports and after graduating from AHS, he attended Stanton Military Academy for a year. However, it was his years at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill that became his life’s catapult. He was a proud member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, where he made enduring friendships. And it was at UNC that he met Rebecca Ann Gordon. He and Becky married in 1954.

After graduating from UNC, Dicky moved to Ahoskie, NC and began managing Lewiston Supply Co. and the family farms in Bertie County.

Dicky was deeply connected to his community in many ways, especially through St. Thomas Episcopal Church where he served on the Vestry, and as junior and senior warden. He volunteered in meaningful outreach projects and led the Ahoskie Food Pantry for many years. When his family faced the challenges of two sons who experienced severe injuries, their community lifted them up which deepened relationships that were already strong.

Dicky loved the daily crossword puzzle and all card games, especially Bridge and Poker. He relished the small crop of Silver Queen corn and home-grown Better Boy tomatoes put in just for his family and friends. He planted his scattered beds of summer zinnias with pleasure. He enjoyed walking his farms along the Roanoke River, and finding and collecting thousands of Paleo-Indian spear points and arrowheads, many of which were displayed at The Mint Museum in Charlotte and are now on permanent display at Hope Plantation in Windsor, NC.

He will be remembered with love and affection by his family and friends. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Becky, and their three children: Jeffrey Hoggard (wife Debbie), Norfleet Hoggard (wife Annetta Jones) all of Raleigh, and Beth Hoggard of Durham. He is also survived by five grandchildren who all live in Wilmington: John (wife Caroline), Charles (wife Emily), Patrick (wife Kathryn), Frances and Edward; and four great grandchildren: Kennedy, Hugh, Audrey and Frankie.

Dicky and Becky moved to The Cedars retirement community in Chapel Hill in 2019. Many thanks to the caring staff at the DuBose Health Center of The Cedars and to UNC Cancer Center for all their help.

A memorial service will be held at St. Thomas Episcopal Church on Saturday, January 13, 2024 at 11:00 am. The burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The Ahoskie Food Pantry, P.O. Box 159, Ahoskie, N.C. 27910; or to Saint Thomas Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 263, Ahoskie, N.C. 27910 or a donation of your choice.