Thomas Ward Hogan

Thomas Ward Hogan, a former Director of Social Services for Wake County, passed away a day after his 84th birthday on August 8, 2022 at Rex Hospital following a brief battle with COVID19 and pneumonia .

Tom was born in Burlington, NC, on August 7, 1938, the second son to the late George Phillip and Alma Chandler Hogan, and he grew up in Oxford, NC. He graduated from Oxford High School (class of 1956), where he played football and competed on the debate team. He went on to earn an Associate in Arts Degree from Mars Hill College and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Wake Forest University. He then earned a Master’s in Social Work from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Tom married Sybil Queen in 1964, and they had four children together. They first settled down in Winston-Salem, NC, where Tom served as supervisor of Foster Care, Adoption and Child Protective Services and oversaw the very first Child Protective Services case in Forsyth County. In 1971, the family moved to Durham, NC, where Tom became the Director of Social Services for Durham County. The family later moved to Richmond, Virginia, where he served as Director of Social Services for 15 years. He then returned to North Carolina in 1991 to serve as Director of Social Services for Wake County and retired from that position in 2002.

In honor of his public service in North Carolina, he was inducted into the prestigious Order of the Long Leaf Pine in 2002. Tom also served on the boards of Smart Start, the National Association of Public Child Welfare Administrators, and the American Public Human Services Association, where he was national chair of the Council of Local Human Services Administrators.

Tom was a member of North Raleigh Presbyterian Church, where he contributed to numerous ministries. He dedicated his life to public service and improving the lives of others and saw his role in the world as one of “a servant of the servants of God.”

Tom loved North Carolina from “Murphy to Manteo,” inspiring him to plan dozens of statewide expeditions with his children and grandchildren to learn more about North Carolina and its history, especially its lighthouses. His very favorite spots were the Outer Banks and the mountains of Ashe County. Tom was also known for his holiday pies and for running “Granddaddy’s Restaurant” for his grandchildren. He will be remembered especially for his granddaddy wisdom, his cool recipes, running “the inn,” his love of Wake Forest basketball, his funny stories, his perfect blessings, his appreciation for sunsets, his thoughtful gift-giving, his “bonk bonk” kisses, and his deep love for NPR and bluegrass music. For his family, he was the keeper of the light.

Tom is survived by his wife of 58 years: Sybil Queen Hogan; daughter Kelly Hogan Clinch (David Clinch); son Thomas Neal Hogan (Christian Hogan); daughter Ashley Catherine Hogan (John Brady); and Blair Hogan Miller (Wes Miller); grandchildren, Emma, Patrick, and Molly Clinch; Zach, Abby, and Audrey Hogan; Bailey, Owen, Mitch, and Paige Brady; and Warren and Drew Miller; sister, Nancy Hogan Noell; many dear nieces and nephews; the Hood; and a host of very close and dear friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Alma Hogan; brother James Phillip Hogan; and sister Anna Catherine (Hogan) O’Brien.

Funeral Services were held on Saturday, August 13, 2022 North Raleigh Presbyterian Church, interment followed at Raleigh Memorial Park.

Flowers are welcomed; however, memorial contributions may be made to Wake County Smart Start and Warmth for Wake.

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