Joe Hunt

Joe Harvey Hunt of Charlotte, a lifelong educator and athlete who once coached basketball under Lefty Driesel at Davidson College, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2009. He was 79. A funeral is planned Saturday, with visitation Friday evening. Details below.

Mr. Hunt was born Aug. 19, 1930, in Lexington, N.C., the son of Harvey Dean and Mary Lois Trull Hunt. He graduated from Matthews School and went on to attend Appalachian State Teachers College, where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees while playing varsity basketball.

He was a United States Army Veteran, Special Services, stationed at Fort Fitzsimons in Aurora, Colo. While there, he played on the baseball team against leading professional baseball players of the day.

He was a career educator. He taught history and coached baseball at North Mecklenburg High School before becoming an assistant basketball coach at Davidson College under Tom Scott and Lefty Driesell. Mr. Hunt re-entered public education as assistant principal at Ranson Junior High School. He then held principalships at Piedmont and Cochrane Junior High Schools and Harding High School, in Charlotte.

Mr. Hunt returned to North Mecklenburg High School as principal in 1974, where he finished his career in 1989.

Mr. Hunt was a long time active member of Huntersville First Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon, Sunday School Director and on many pastoral search committees. Mr. Hunt later moved his membership to Calvary Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, continuing service as an usher and cook for Wednesday night meals.

Mr. Hunt enjoyed many hobbies, including color broadcasting for Belmont Abbey College, basket weaving and cooking. His most favorite was golfing; having a standing Saturday morning tee time at Cowans Ford Country Club for twenty plus years with the same foursome.

Survivors include his wife Derma Jacobs Sherry-Hunt of the home; daughters: Marty Berry and husband, Brian of Marietta, Ga., Mimi Dowdy and husband, David of Mooresville; grandchildren: Sara and Erin Berry; Hunter, Holland, and Harris Dowdy; and Sister: Mary Hunt Yandle of Matthews.

Memorials may be made to The V Foundation, 106 Tower View Court, Cary, North Carolina, 27513.

Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, at Raymer Funeral Home, Huntersville. The funeral service will be 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, at First Baptist Church in Huntersville. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Monday, Dec. 7, at Calvary Church.

Raymer Funeral Home is serving the family.