Henry George Carrison III

Henry George Carrison III of Greensboro, NC died unexpectedly at his home on Thursday, October 21, 2021. Henry was a man of wide-ranging talents and interests, which continued even through his last years with Parkinson’s disease. He was a banker, a businessman, a naturalist, a sportsman and sailor, and a prolific writer. He invested in personal relationships, his faith and his community throughout his life.

He was born in Norfolk, VA, on October 26, 1943, the eldest son of Mary Alden Ellerbe Haynsworth and Henry George Carrison, Jr. A proud South Carolinian, Henry grew up outside of Camden, SC, on land his family had owned since the colonization of South Carolina. After graduation from Camden High School, he received his BA degree in English from The University of the South (Sewanee) in English. He served two tours of duty in Vietnam, first on a minesweeper and then as an Admiral’s Aide. After completing his service in Vietnam, Henry travelled in India, the Middle East, and completed his trip by driving through Europe on a motorcycle.

Henry met his wife of fifty years, Mary Leigh Woltz (Molly), at Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. He liked to say that he heard her southern accent from the back of the room and proposed marriage within three weeks.

Prior to his early retirement, Henry’s career was in banking at NCNB and NationsBank. He was known as a man who believed in people and was willing to take risks for customers that others dared not take.

He believed in giving to his community and in 1997 received the NCCJ Brotherhood Citation award. Over his more than forty years in Greensboro, he served on a variety of boards, including the Child Care Ministry and the Episcopal Servant Center. He was the chair of the Board of Visitors of NC A&T State University. He was a founding board member of the Greensboro Community Foundation and served as an elder for First Presbyterian Church.

While Henry was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in his early 40s, he bravely coexisted with it for nearly forty years and never lost his sense of adventure. He found it was a way to deepen his natural ability to connect with others.

Henry spent much of his later years writing and would take off sailing whenever possible. He looked forward to the annual crop of figs in the garden he and Molly cultivated. He worked in the garden, made pickles annually with friends, played bridge, attended writing groups and was always ready to share a new writing project with whomever would listen.

Henry is survived by his wife, Molly, of Greensboro; son Henry Carrison IV (Caroline) of Raleigh, NC; daughter Susan Isaacs (Mark) of Nashville, TN, four grandsons, and a brother, Perry Carrison, of Boston, MA. He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Mary Alden Carrison of Camden, SC, a brother, Marian Singleton Kirk Carrison, and a sister, Susan Singleton Carrison.

Following the internment at Green Hill cemetery, a memorial service will be held on Monday, October 25, 2021, at 2:00pm at First Presbyterian Church, Greensboro, NC where COVID restrictions are followed including wearing a mask. The service will also be livestreamed at the link www.youtube.com/watch?v=4U9QYTJ1B4M.

There will be a reception at Well Spring Retirement Community immediately after the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to First Presbyterian Church (617 N. Elm Street, Greensboro, NC 27401), the University of the South (735 University Avenue, Sewanee, Tennessee 37383-1000), or YWCA Greensboro (1807 E. Wendover Ave., Greensboro, 27405).

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.haneslineberryfhnorthelm.com for the Carrison family.