Randy attended Randolph Macon College in Virginia and law school at UNC-Chapel Hill. While in college and law school, Randy spent summers working for Camps Seagull and Seafarer and was the licensed captain of the Salty, the camp’s deep sea fishing vessel. Through his seven summers as a camp counselor, he developed a deep love for the water and for eastern North Carolina.
While studying law at Carolina, Randy met the love of his life, Elaine, who was also a student at the University. After receiving his law degree, Randy became an FBI agent serving as a special agent in New York City. Randy could have filled a book with stories of his time in the FBI and it was a chapter in his life that he remembered with pride. When he and Elaine began a family, Randy left the FBI and launched his very successful legal career, first in the District Attorney’s Office in Raleigh and then with Ward & Smith in New Bern. Toward the end of his career and with a passion for serving others and his community, Randy became a magistrate for Carteret, Craven and Pamlico Counties and developed a reputation as being compassionate, fair and well-prepared. Randy continued to practice law on a part-time basis until 2019.
Randy was a long-time member and past commodore of the Eastern Carolina Yacht Club and a dedicated member of Garber United Methodist Church where he served in many volunteer roles. His favorite role at Garber was as a volunteer with the Kingswood After School Program, a tutoring program for at-risk youth in grades 2 - 5.
Over his life, Randy had a list of hobbies from assembling model airplanes to actually flying them. He achieved his goal of becoming a private pilot and enjoyed co-owning and flying several small engine planes. He never lost his love of boating and enjoyed taking his family out on the Trent and Neuse Rivers. He was infinitely patient while teaching children and grandchildren how to ski and wakeboard or just pulling them around and around on tubes. Sweets, dill pickles, a good Scotch and anything Elaine cooked were some of his favorite things.
Throughout his impressive career and life of service, Randy’s first priority was always his family, friends and community. Randy was universally known as a kind and caring person to anyone he met. He was a trusted friend to many, was honorable, humble and steady. He loved his family unconditionally and deeply.
Randy is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Elaine Carlson Hiner; children, Adrienne Hiner Cole (Walter) of Raleigh, James Randall Hiner, Jr. (Ali Given) of New Bern, and Lee Carlson Hiner (Dana) of New Bern; grandchildren, Willard “Will” Walter Cole IV, Sundin Claire Cole and Anderson James Cole of Raleigh and Kennedy Anne Hiner and Edwin “Winn” Lee Hiner of New Bern. He is also survived by siblings Horace Richard Hiner Jr. (Cheryl) of Lynchburg, VA, John Walter Hiner (Elizabeth) of New Bern and sisters-in-law Claire N. Carlson of Charleston, SC and Lee Carlson of San Antonio, TX.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Kingswood After School Program at Garber United Methodist Church.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Monday, August 15, 2022 at Garber United Methodist Church at 2:00 PM. A reception will follow. A live stream of the service will be available at http://connect2garber.com/connect/streaming for those who cannot attend in person. Online condolences and full obituary can be made/found at www.cottenfuneralhome.com.
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