JEAN B. HINNANT

ZEBULON - Jean Beddingfield Hinnant, 82, of Zebulon, died March 10, 2013.  She was the daughter of the late Ivon William Beddingfield and Thelma Alford Beddingfield.  Jean was preceded in death by her husband of 31 years, Thaddeus Edgar Hinnant, Jr.  She was also preceded in death by her brother, Clarence Beddingfield.  She is survived by her daughters, Sherry Hinnant and husband Calhoun Bond, Jr. of Mebane, and Julie Bagley and husband Douglas Bagley of Raleigh; sister, Peggy Bryant of Wilson; brothers, Bill Beddingfield and wife Priscilla of Wendell and Donnie Beddingfield and wife Mary Jane of Asheville; sister-in-law, Rebecca Beddingfield of Bunn; several nieces and nephews.

She graduated from Bunn High School and from East Carolina Teachers College.  She returned to Bunn High School as a teacher for over 31 years before her retirement. Jean was a life-long athlete, who at age 16 pitched baseball in a men’s semi-pro baseball game, striking out six batters in four innings, before it was discovered that she was a girl when her baseball cap flew off. Jean went on to coach the girls’ basketball team at Bunn High School for eleven years, with a record of 233 wins and only 29 losses (nine titles in 11 years).  She coached the 1952-1956 team (the first string known as the “Fabulous Six”) to 72 consecutive wins. Jean and the team were honored at a special ceremony at Bunn High School in 2003 for their athletic achievements. She was an avid life-long Tar Heel fan. She loved her family and friends, and above all her two daughters, Sherry and Julie.

The funeral was held Thursday, March 14, at 11:00 a.m., Pine Ridge Baptist Church, 874 Pine Ridge Road, Zebulon, NC. Interment followed in the church cemetery.

The family received friends Wednesday, March 13, from 6:00-8:00, at Pine Ridge Baptist Church.

Flowers are accepted or memorials may be made to Pine Ridge Baptist Church.

Arrangements by Strickland Funeral Home, Wendell, www.stricklandfuneralhomes.net.

Paid Obituary