Thomas Hartwell "Hart" Rivers

Hart was treasured by family and friends for his biting sense of humor and soft heart. He was born on July 19, 1994, and grew up in Raleigh and also at his family’s cherished place on the Neuse River in Pamlico County. He was a graduate of Raleigh’s Broughton High School and NC State University.

Hart deeply loved his partner Kiley, his husky Mookie, the Boston Red Sox, the Carolina Hurricanes, North Carolina State sports and his fraternity brothers at Sigma Chi, good movies, time at the river, holiday traditions, Disney World, and cooking.

He will not miss seeing people chewing gum, wet straw paper left on restaurant tables, excessive lipstick, or the NY Yankees.

He leaves behind his beautiful partner, Kiley Murray; devoted parents, Lisa and Wayne Rivers; beloved sister, Cate, all of Raleigh; grandparents, Tom and Lib Campbell of Raleigh and Barbara Thomason of Wilmington; and a huge circle of friends and family.

His memorial service was held on Thursday, February 27, 2025, at Hayes Barton United Methodist Church, 2209 Fairview Rd., Raleigh, at 2:00 pm. The family received visitors after the service. The service was livestreamed at the following link: https://vimeo.com/1061745517

In lieu of flowers or food for the family, please consider designating gifts in his memory to the athletic programs at The Salvation Army of Wake County where he played as a boy or the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).

Though he will be deeply and forever missed, we hope you will join us in remembering Hart with joy and thankfulness for the gift he was to us all. And as Hart would say in parting, “Play tomorrow!"

Salvation Army: https://give.salvationarmycarolinas.org/give/175549/#

JDRF: https://www2.breakthrought1d.org/site/Donation2?2374.donation=form1&df_id=2374&mfc_pref=T

Brown-Wynne, 300 Saint Mary's Street, Raleigh, is serving the Rivers family.