Douglas Wiley Hix

Douglas Wiley Hix, 97, of Laurinburg, N.C., passed away peacefully in his sleep on Saturday, August 16, 2025, at Scotia Village Retirement Community.

He is survived by his devoted wife of nearly 75 years, Patricia DeFord Hix; three sons, Donald Parker Hix (Katherine) of Franklin County, Va., Joshua Wiley Hix (Sarah) of Grayson, Ga., and Timothy Preston Hix (Robin) of Lexington, Ky.; and his grandson, Grant Preston Hix (Megan) of Augusta, Ga. He is also remembered by a large extended family of step-grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. Doug was preceded in death by his parents, William Parker Hix and Daisye Mai Wiley Hix; his brother, Charles Parker Hix; and his sister, Joye Hix Glovier.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 23, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. at Laurinburg Presbyterian Church, with Rev. Rebekah Carpenter, Charles Wentz, and Rev. Dr. Frank Covington officiating.

Doug lived a life guided by service to God and an enduring curiosity about the world. These traits, as well as the deep, abiding love for his family, no doubt contributed to his amazing longevity. He found his fulfillment as a husband, father, grandfather, teacher, pastor, counselor, explorer, and all-around leader of many. He was a prodigious reader, avid hiker, world traveler, and a big fan of the Duke Blue Devils, Davidson Wildcats, and Atlanta Braves. Nothing gave him greater delight than to help those in his circle of family and friends, or those in his charge, achieve success, enjoyment, and fulfillment in life. And to those who knew and loved him, he could always be counted on for stimulating conversation. His pastor's heart was the hallmark of Doug’s entire ministry, whether teaching college students, retired pastors or pastoring his own Flock.

Doug was born on April 1, 1928, in St. Augustine, Florida. For much of his youth, his family moved wherever his father worked as a contractor building roads throughout the South. It was during their time in Atlanta when, as a teenager, he met Patricia Ann DeFord in the youth fellowship group at the Peachtree Road Presbyterian Church. The two survived college years apart, he at Davidson and she at Agnes Scott, before they were married on Aug. 19, 1950, in the same church where they met. Pat was in his presence when he passed, just three days shy of their 75th anniversary.

Doug and Pat's journey began at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia, where he enrolled and where they became first-time parents (Don in 1952). He earned his Bachelor of Divinity from Columbia in 1953. He was ordained to ministry at the Dallas Presbyterian Church, LaGrange, Georgia, in May of 1953. Then it was on to Duke University, where Doug began to work on his PhD. in Ethics from the Graduate School of the Divinity School there. He interrupted his post-graduate studies to get a real job, this time as a professor and later Dean of Students at King College in Bristol, Tennessee. It was in Bristol where Doug and Pat welcomed Josh in 1957 and Tim in 1960.

Doug found time in 1965 to complete his studies at Duke. Three years later, he moved his family to Laurinburg, where he taught Philosophy and Christian Thought at St. Andrews Presbyterian College. In 1975, as the Laurinburg Presbyterian Church sought to fill the vacancy in its pastorship, he offered to take the job on an interim schedule. Things went so well that he was tapped as its full-time pastor the following year.

In June of 1980, Doug answered his alma mater's call when Columbia Seminary lured him back to Decatur to serve as Director of Advanced Studies. For 13 years, with Pat as his assistant, Doug built this program from the basement floor, with backyard ice cream socials at home, group tours to Scotland and Israel, and with satellite programs far and wide. By the time they both retired in 1993, Columbia’s Advanced Studies program had become one of the nation’s most successful.

In Doug and Pat’s life journey together, they always felt most at home in Laurinburg, so they settled there in retirement. Except that Doug continued to work to serve God and others through serving as Stated Supply at Centre Presbyterian Church, in Maxton, for at least 14 years. He worked for 10 years with the Presbytery of Coastal Carolina to organize and lead the Retreat at the Beach for pastors and spouses, and he helped establish the program to educate lay pastors. At the age of 82, he really retired. A life well lived!

Memorials may be made to Laurinburg Presbyterian Church, 600 W. Church St., Laurinburg NC 28352.

Bumgarner Family Funeral Service and Crematorium is assisting the Hix Family.

Online Condolences can be made at www.bumgarnerfunerals.com

Laurinburg Presbyterian Church
600 W. Church St., Laurinburg NC 28352