Cody Garrett Harrelson, 26, of Conover passed away suddenly on Tuesday, November 13 at Frye Regional Medical Center in Hickory. Born on July 26, 1992, in Hickory, Cody was the son of Jana Whitmire Sweezy of Claremont, the brother of Britney Lundy of Conover, the nephew of Chad Whitmire of Charlotte, the grandson of Beverly and Tom Considine of Conover, Loyd Whitmire of Claremont, and the great grandson of Bobby and Frankie Matthews of Conover. In addition to many other relatives, Cody is survived by his dear friend Nick Pope and his furry child Nugget.
He was predeceased by his nanny, Ruth Harrelson and his great grandmother Minnie Alice Whitmire and a special friend Drew Spencer.
Cody was a beautiful, bright boy who grew into a handsome, intelligent young man. He was an excellent student, an avid reader, a sparkling conversationalist, an accomplished swimmer, snowboarder, skateborder, and a meticulous craftsman. Not afraid of hard work, Cody had recently been remodeling his home and was particularly proud of his current project, refinishing his wood floors. He was known for his boyish smile, his strong hugs, and his liberal kisses. Most of all he was noted for his oversized heart of gold.
Cody’s sister Britney was his best friend and confidant. He loved nothing more than spending time with her, her husband Cameron (the brother he had gained through marriage), and their daughter Lillyanne. Both Cody and Britney could take on the world together, and a quick rebuff from one would protect the other from any outside obstacle. Their unconditional love for and their fierce loyalty to each other were forces to be reckoned with, and since love never dies, theirs will live on connecting them even though Cody is no longer physically present.
Cody had great dreams: to finish his education, to begin a career, to have a family, to travel. We are sad that he did not stay long enough to attain these goals. Cody’s struggle with a darkness we call depression finally became too great a burden for him to bear. We, his family, are heartbroken at the realization that our best efforts to love and support Cody were not enough. We will miss his warm smile, his bear hugs, his quick wit, and his willingness to help all of us in any way he could.
A celebration of Cody’s life will be held on Monday, November 19 at 1:00 p.m. at Concordia Lutheran Church in Conover. Family will receive friends immediately following the ceremony. Britney asks that those attending wear bright colors because Cody loved them.
For those who loved Cody and who wish to remember him, please consider a donation to the Humane Society of Catawba County, our no-kill shelter. You may send donations to PO Box 63, Hickory, NC 28601. For more information, you may call (828) 464-8878 or visit the website at www.catawbahumane.org.
If you have a loved one or friend who suffers from depression, please encourage him or her to seek help from the mental health community. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention reported that in 2016 suicide was the 10th leading cause of death in the United States. It was the seventh leading cause of death for males. It was the second leading cause of death for young people aged 15 to 25. White males accounted for seven out of ten suicides in 2016. The National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 1-800-273-8255. There are many other hotlines open 24 hours a day, every day.
“Light of the world shine on me. Love is the answer.”
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