Obituary of Harold Pendergrass

Harold Green Pendergrass, a resident of Burlington NC, passed away May 30th 2023. Born November 25, 1945 in Carrboro NC, he was 77 years old. He was described as loyal, reliable, dedicated, caring, affable, and competitive; and he was known as a rabid Tar Heel fan.

He is survived by his two children Amanda Pendergrass Culton and John Caldwell Pendergrass and his five grandchildren Julie Grace Ruth, Reilley Jackson, Ella Catherine, John Bain, and Hardy Bowden Culton. He is also survived by his sister Carrie Jane Pendergrass, and his brothers Donald Pendergrass, and Ronnie Pendergrass. He was pre-deceased by his parents Ruth Bowden & Albert Luther Pendergrass. He was also pre-deceased by a brother Lindy Pendergrass and sisters Catherine Pendergrass and Carol Terrell.

Harold graduated from Chapel Hill High School in 1964 where he lettered in baseball and football and played several other sports. He was in the US Army 1965-1967 with the US 53rd 410th Infantry in Vietnam where he received the National Defense Service Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with two Bronze Service Stars, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and was an Expert Rifleman. He graduated from Elon College in 1974 with a BA in Business Administration.

Harold was a Special Agent with the NC State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) from 1976 – 2001 and was responsible for the application and enforcement of all North Carolina criminal laws. He conducted homicide, arson and undercover drug investigations, as well as sensitive governmental investigations. He was a member of SBI Hostage Negotiations Team, was an Agent Liaison with the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) investigating foreign and domestic narcotics cases, and was assigned to the Federal Fugitive Task Force – Middle District, Greensboro NC.

Harold worked with the US Marshals Service 2002-2007; he was with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the BICS unit 2004-2007, he was a Detective with the Carteret County Sheriff's office 2007-2020; and worked with the Alamance County Sheriff's Office 2022-2023. He received many acknowledgements for his accomplishments:  In 2001, he received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, for distinguished service to the state of North Carolina from Governor Roy Cooper, and in 1984, he received meritorious service recognition from DEA and the US Marshal Service.

Visitation will be June 7 from 10:00 AM – Noon at Walker Funeral Home at 120 West Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, NC. Immediately following the visitation a Service and Celebration of Life will be held from Noon - 1pm at Walker Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made to the Wounded Warriors Project.  A reception will follow the service at the Marriott Hotel at 214 West Rosemary Street, Chapel Hill, NC.Graveside service will be held June 9 at 11:00 AM at Westwood Cemetery in Carrboro, NC. 

Walker's Funeral Home of Chapel Hill is honored to assist the Pendergrass family.