Hayden William McDuffie

Hayden William McDuffie, 85 of Sanford passed away Friday, July 30, 2021.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00am Wednesday (8/4/2021) at Rogers Pickard Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Center United Methodist Church Cemetery. The family will greet friends beginning at 10:00 am Wednesday.

Mr. McDuffie was born in Lee County to George Henry McDuffie and Viola Maybelle Riddle McDuffie. Hayden was preceded in death by his wife of over 58 years, Mabel Rosser McDuffie in April 2020. Hayden and Mabel were long time members at St. Luke Methodist Church and regularly supported other local churches through their generous donations and fellowship. Hayden was also preceded in death by his eleven siblings.

After graduating from Anderson Creek, Hayden attended automotive and diesel school in Nashville, Tennessee. He returned to Sanford and worked for Holt Supply Company and Holt Truck and Tractor for 10 years as a diesel mechanic. The Holts were like family to Hayden, and they gave him the experience that he needed to be a successful mechanic.
From 1958 through 1964, Hayden belonged to the US Army Reserve as a Military Policeman assigned to the Quartermaster Aero Supply Unit that rigged heavy drop pallets for airborne delivery.

From 1966 through 1970 Hayden co-owned the American Service Center and a Union 76 Service Station with his nephew Dennis Maddox who was only 8 days younger than Hayden. Hayden joked that while they worked very long hours their business thrived, and they were successful until changes in the industry shifted to self-service pumps.

From 1970 to 1998, Hayden worked for North Carolina Department of Transportation Division 8 as a mechanic and ultimately as an Operations Supervisor.

After retirement in 1998, Hayden and Mabel regularly played golf together at local golf courses and many of the popular courses across the United States. Hayden also enjoyed his shop projects and re-built many antique mowers, lawn and garden tractors, farm tractors, and several antique trucks and automobiles.

Hayden is survived by several in-laws and many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to St Luke United Methodist Church, 2916 Wicker Street, Sanford, NC 27330.