Thomas Morgan Hiles

Thomas Morgan Hiles, 75, of Masonboro Sound, Wilmington, North Carolina, passed away February, 7 2020. Born in Mobile, Alabama on March 6, 1944, he is the son of Captain Morgan Hiles and Mary Isabella Reeves Hiles. He was preceded in death by his beloved sister, Martha Patricia Hiles, and his wife’s parents, Eunice and Norman Gray. Mr. Hiles is survived by his wife of 45 years and the love of his life, Sharon Gray Hiles, his daughter, Heather Hiles Newsom and his son-in-law and physician, William Alexander Newsom, MD whom he also loved and respected, and his 14 month old grand-daughter, Sienna Graylyn Newsom, who made his life complete.

Mr. Hiles received his BA and MBA from the University of Alabama. He served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps and the National Guard. He was a wonderful family man and had many friends from all walks of life. Blessed with great humor. He began his 40 plus years in the beverage industry in 1967 with American Can Company. In 1973 he became Vice-President and CEO of Carolina Canner, Inc., Cheraw, South Carolina, with five other manufacturing facilities in the Carolinas. In 1985 he joined the Honickman Group as director of 5 different operations in the Northeast and Metropolitan New York City. He later joined Cott Corporation in Toronto, Canada, as Executive of World Wide Manufacturing and Distribution. Mr. Hiles retried as CEO of Cott Beverages USA in 2001 and started his own business consulting company. Throughout his career he made numerous presentations including to the World Beverage Conference in Tokyo, Japan and to organizations in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Hiles served on man Boards and Commissions with entities including Clemson University, the Medical University of South Carolina, Rutgers University and UNCW. His work with MUSC included the establishment of a Chair in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

The family express its appreciation to the care givers at UNC Chapel Hill Hospital, M.D. Anderson and to Zimmerman Cancer Center for helping him fight a very rare and aggressive Cancer, and expressly acknowledges Dr. Will Kirby, Dr. Kenneth Kotz and the non-stop loving care from his son-in-law, Dr. Alex Newsom.  

A memorial Service will be held Saturday, February 15 at 4:00 p.m. at Andrews Mortuary Market Chapel. A spring sunset memorial is scheduled on the beach at Ocean Isle Beach, his happy place for 42 years. A private burial of Mr. Hiles ashes will be in Greenlawn Memorial Park. His ashes will also be spread from his beloved boat, “Feeling Free.” Donations can be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or Samaritans Purse.