Faith Danielle Hedgepeth was born on September 26, 1992, in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, to Roland H. Hedgepeth and Connie H. Hedgepeth. From an early age, Faith brought joy to the people around her with her infectious smile, bubbly personality, lighthearted laughter and genuine love for others.
Faith had a heart of gold and a way of making people feel welcome. She valued her family deeply and treasured the time she spent with them. Although she accomplished much during her short life, the relationships she shared with the people she loved remained most important to her.
Faith's Christian faith was also an important part of her life. She was a member of Mount Bethel Baptist Church, where she participated in GAs, Acteens, the Youth Choir, the Usher Board and the For Him Praise Team. She had a strong relationship with God and valued her church family.
Faith continually strived for excellence. She participated in the National Honor Society, Project SEED at Duke University, Project Uplift, Camp Carolina, Summer Bridge and Renaissance at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Rising Stars Tutors, NCNAYO, SWAT, the Native American Student Association, Youth Summit Committee and cheerleading. Her academic achievements earned her a full college scholarship through the Gates Millennium Scholars Program.
A proud member of the Haliwa-Saponi Tribe of North Carolina, Faith valued her heritage and her tribal community.
At the time of her death, Faith was a junior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she was majoring in biology. She dreamed of becoming either a pediatrician or an elementary school teacher. Both dreams reflected something fundamental about Faith: she loved children and wanted her life and career to make a difference in the lives of others.
Faith was a beloved daughter, granddaughter, sister, aunt, niece, cousin and friend. To those who knew her, she was much more than her accomplishments. She was the young woman with the beautiful smile who loved her family, her faith, her community and her friends.
Faith's life was tragically cut short on September 7, 2012, just weeks before her twentieth birthday. She was only 19 years old.
Her life, however, cannot be defined by the way it ended. Faith accomplished much, loved deeply and left an enduring impression on those fortunate enough to know her. Her family continues to honor her life, share her story and ensure that Faith Danielle Hedgepeth is remembered for the person she was and the life she lived.