Hunter Patterson Freeman

Dearest Hunter, One of the happiest days of our lives was March 14, 1986, when you joined our family. Erin Marie, your sister did not initially welcome you as she had been around 4 years before you. However, she loved you as fiercely as we all did. You made us laugh, cry, shout, and scream as we watched your athletic abilities on the soccer field and golf course. You were indeed a “force of nature” and all who met you loved your gregarious nature and your zest for life! Our journey as a family continued, when Dad used to take you and Erin to church every Sunday, while I ministered to the sick at Raleigh Community Hospital. The church staff were in awe of your ability to communicate, read, and create sentences at such a young age! As our family life continued you and I talked so much your Dad and Erin did not get much talk time. Then ironically, we both developed a love for TED talks and had to learn to listen! You were an incredible athlete…. we spent many days on golf courses and attended soccer games all over the state. Your graduation from Wakefield with honors made us so proud. Then off to North Carolina State University you went to continue your academic journey. Your girlfriend relationships were fun, intense, and sometimes heart breaking. Then you met Dr. Hope Lima in 2014 at NCSU and you told me “She is my love and soul mate.” We traveled extensively as a family and you and Erin loved the adventures as we did. You both taught us to love life, people, and adventures. The Mediterranean cruise that you and I shared was a true gift and such an enriching experience. We laughed, feared (you got so seasick), fought, and embraced the beauty of many countries and cultures…Majorca, Spain being one of your favorite places. I will be eternally grateful for this gift of time we had together. Covid 19 changed our lives in 2020, but gratefully Erin, Jacob, you, and I spent a day together at Asheboro Zoo in October wearing our masks. We did a lot of face timing on holidays, birthdays, Father’s and Mother’s Days, and special occasions. We are forever grateful for our facetime with you for Jacob’s 7th birthday July 8th this year. And then on July 12, 2021, our worlds were shattered…me, your Dad, Erin, Josh, Jacob, and Thomas (and many others too). Your family loves you dearly and you will be forever with us. Jacob Bennett and Thomas Hunter will miss your athletic interactions. Josh and your Dad as well as Erin and I are tossing footballs and kicking soccer balls with them, and that is a hoot! You taught us all so much. The love of life, character, and the goodness of people. You made us laugh with your witty humor and now you must continue to bring us laughter, tears, sadness, and love. Our sadness is beyond profound and the emptiness we all feel will forever remain as we will miss your jokes, hugs, kisses, voice, and physical presence. The fierceness of our love will forever live on in our earthly and thus heavenly LIFE. May we all live on in spiritual love my dearest son Hunter Patterson Freeman. Please continue to teach me and your Dad how to minister to others with purpose. To our family and friends, thank you for your outpouring of love, support, compassion and for being there for our family. Our family will have a private celebration of Hunter’s life at the beach which he loved so much and spent every summer. An announcement of a public celebration of Hunter’s precious life will be forthcoming in Fall 2021 at the Bryan-Lee Funeral Home. We are finding comfort in John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. With love, Donn, Judy, Erin, Josh, Jacob, and Thomas