Windsor, NC

Lanny L. Hiday, a retired attorney who advised companies including Burt's Bees and Wheeler Airlines, the first black-owned airline in the United States, died Sunday at Vidant Bertie Hospital in Windsor, N.C., after a brief illness following a stroke. He was 75.

After retiring to Windsor in 2012, Mr. Hiday worked as Copy Editor at the Bertie Ledger-Advance, helped run the Opportunity Shoppe thrift store, volunteered at the Bertie Arts Council and was a lay delegate to the Episcopal Diocese of East Carolina. He was licensed by the bishop as a Worship Leader and served as lay deanery representative at his beloved St. Thomas Episcopal Church.

Some residents of Windsor first came to know Mr. Hiday by way of his large brown Newfoundland dog Raleigh, who was once mistaken for a bear by startled shoppers at Pittman's Pharmacy.

Mr. Hiday became renowned for his love of stray cats and fellow humans as well, providing small kindnesses and a ready listening ear. While at the Opportunity Shoppe, he would go out of his way to keep an eye out for items that patrons had expressed an interest in, and to give away items to those in need.

Born in Indianapolis, Mr. Hiday spent his early years in Fortville, IN, before moving as a teenager to Fort Lauderdale, FL. While at Fort Lauderdale High School he conducted the orchestra for a community production of "Brigadoon" in which his wife-to-be, from rival Stranahan High School, played Fiona.

Mr. Hiday moved to North Carolina to attend Duke University. He continued to pursue his musical interests, playing bass with Higgy's jazz combo at night spots across the state.

After transferring to UNC-Chapel Hill, and becoming a lifelong Tar Heel fan, Mr. Hiday earned a bachelor's degree in political science. During that time he also became a private-plane pilot and, eventually, a flight instructor.

Mr. Hiday earned his J.D. from the University of Colorado in Boulder and was an assistant law professor at N.C. Central University in Durham. He managed a private law practice in Chapel Hill for many years.

Mr. Hiday counseled Burt's Bees in the 1990s, remarking for a book on entrepreneurship that the young company was changing its product line so rapidly that "sometimes we joke that we'll be making diesel engines in five years."

He is survived by his son Jeffrey Hiday of Vienna, VA, daughter-in-law Kim Hiday, granddaughters Spencer Grace and Chase, and grandson Wilford, as well as his son's mother, Jil Pretty; his sister Carolyn Goldsmith of Anderson, IN, and his nieces Kathy Brown, Cindy Hager and Christi Maidlow; and his son's stepmother, Virginia Aldige of Chapel Hill.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, Aug. 14, at 11 a.m. at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 302 S. Queen St., Windsor NC, 27983.

The family will receive friends Tuesday, Aug. 13, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Walker Funeral Home, which is handling arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to Bertie County Humane Society (217 County Farm Road, Windsor NC, 27983) or St. Thomas Episcopal Church (P.O. Box 400, Windsor NC, 27983).

Online condolences may be directed to www.walkerfh.net .  Walker Funeral Home of Windsor is serving the Hiday family.