Carolyn Hardin Heagey

Carolyn Waller Hardin Heagey, 94, lived a life brimming with music. She passed peacefully on October 10, 2024, leaving behind her adoring family, scores of friends and loved ones, and generations of students to mourn her passing while celebrating a life exemplified by love, joy, and resilience.

At age thirteen, Carolyn became the organist at Tampa’s Hyde Park United Methodist Church, where her father, Harry H. Waller, was pastor, making her the youngest member nationally of the American Guild of Organists. She went on to study piano and organ at DePauw University and the Philadelphia Conservatory of Music, where she earned her Bachelor of Music degree. In 1950, Carolyn married Dr. Marvin Smith Hardin, and their family blossomed.

When the young family of seven returned to Tampa in 1959, Carolyn became immersed in Tampa’s music community. She served for 33 years as principal accompanist for the Tampa Oratorio Society and performed frequently in other concerts and recitals. Perhaps most rewarding, however, was the half-century she spent enjoying deep fellowship and friendship as organist, pianist, and choirmaster at Bayshore Presbyterian Church. Carolyn also taught piano in her home to nearly 350 students, aged six to seventy-six, taking great pleasure in working with each one of them.

As musical as she was, Carolyn’s first devotion was always to her family, and she was extremely active (of course!) in her five children’s schools and extracurricular lives. She served as PTA president many times over, organized afterschool “Great Books” and music-appreciation clubs, and became an ever-present figure on each school campus. She was immensely proud of her children and grandchildren and was an endless source of encouragement and unconditional love and support for them.

Later in life, Carolyn married her second husband, Raymond Heagey, who thoroughly shared her love of music. With her children off to college, she was also free to explore a new passion for world travel, through multiple trips to Central America, Europe, Africa, Russia, Asia, and the Arctic Circle. She loved learning about other cultures, particularly the history of ancient civilizations. Her only son accompanied her on many of these exotic trips, and she cherished the time they spent together exploring the world.

In 2008, Carolyn joined the Canterbury Tower Retirement Community, where she immediately spread her love of music by organizing a monthly singalong, complete with songbooks collated with the best “golden oldies,” as well as talent shows featuring staff and other residents. She also created a men’s chorus, which brought her a new opportunity for fellowship with like-minded music lovers. Upon hearing of Carolyn’s death, a dear friend quipped, “She has probably already organized a men’s chorus in heaven!” But her most significant and lasting contribution to the musical life of Canterbury Tower was the creation of a concert series, whereby masterful musicians of all sorts are invited to perform. That series is now named the “Canterbury Tower Carolyn Hardin Heagey Artist Series” in her honor.

For her 90th birthday, in recognition of her devotion and commitment to sharing music with others, her children established the Carolyn Hardin Heagey Scholarship at the University of Tampa, to support the studies of a promising piano student. “I can’t imagine a more perfect gift,” Carolyn remarked, as happy tears flowed.

Even after moving into Canterbury’s Health Center due to declining health, Carolyn could often be found at the keyboard, sharing her love of music. Her dearest friends from Tampa’s music community would visit often and perform for her, which brought her great pleasure. She loved every genre of music; one might hear the strains of Chopin or Liszt one day and Oscar Petersen or Barbra Streisand the next, wafting through her room. Music continued to fill her life with meaning and joy -- even up to her final days, as she sang old show tunes and favorite hymns with her beloved daughters by her side.

Carolyn is survived by her loving children and their families: Kenneth Hardin (Armando) of Tampa, Cheryl Johnston (Michael) of Athens, GA, Karen Fedor (John) of Charlotte, NC, Dianne Hardin (David, deceased) of Monroe, GA, and Deborah Wagner (Alan) of Tampa; nine grandchildren, whom she adored: Michael Fedor (Sandy) of Piedmont, CA, David Fedor (Lily) of San Carlos, CA, Christopher Fedor (Lucia) of Durham, NC, Andrew Hardin-White of London, England, Sarah Hardin-White of Asheville, NC, Benjamin Johnston (Adriana) of Astoria, NY, Daniel Johnston of Milledgeville, GA, Alexander Wagner (Stefanie) of Denver, CO, and Natalie Niepoth (Mick) of New York City, NY; her step-granddaughter, Jane Field of Monroe, GA; six great-grandchildren: Hardin, Sophia, Camellia, Max, Isaac, and Felix; and six stepchildren and their families: Martha Ann Hagan of Stone Mountain, GA, Mary Lou Johnson (Bill) of Longboat Key, R. Chandler Heagey III (Constance) of Tampa, William Heagey of Tampa, Elizabeth Rodon of Tampa, and Robert Heagey of St. Petersburg. She is also survived by her treasured sister, Rosalee Moore of Tampa; brother-in-law, Wise Hardin (Roxann) of Altamonte Springs, and extended Hardin family; cousin, Annabeal Lefler of Misenheimer, NC; and numerous nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, and grand-nephews, all of whom were special to her. Carolyn is preceded in death by her two husbands, Dr. Marvin S. Hardin and Raymond C. Heagey, Jr., parents Rev. Harry H. Waller and Mildred Smith Waller, three brothers, Harry Waller, Jr., Benjamin Waller III, and Capt. Marvin Barnett, and sister-in-law Louise Parker.

A memorial service to celebrate Carolyn’s abundant and inspirational life will be held at Bayshore Presbyterian Church on November 2, 2024, at 2:00 p.m., with musical prelude beforehand.

And now, our sweet Mom, “may flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.” You will always be with us.