CBHE was saddened to hear of the passing of ringer Greg Unerwood on December 29, 2017. We will miss our dear friend, fellow ringer, composer, and dedicated supporter. Please see below for Greg’s obituary.
Gregory McKinley Underwood, 46
Gregory McKinley Underwood was born January 15, 1971, in Columbus, Ohio, the youngest of six children to Winnie A. and T. Fred Underwood. He died at Pineville Rehabilitation Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, December 29, 2017, after a courageous battle with cancer. He was a 1989 (co-valedictorian) graduate of Fort Myers, Florida, High School and a 1993 (magna cum laude) graduate of Duke University. Greg was a gifted musician, an accomplished pianist, and an award-winning composer of several handbell choir compositions. Greg was highly respected and loved by his colleagues and students during his 20-year career as the staff accompanist for the Music Department at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte. He also served more than a decade as the Music Director for the Spirit of Joy Lutheran Church, in Weddington, North Carolina, and was a frequent guest pianist for the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, and for his home church of First Baptist Church of Fort Myers, Florida. Both alone and with his friends, he loved traveling, exploring, and hiking in the mountains. Greg was preceded in death by his grandparents, James and Hester Winters of Cambridge, Ohio; and Clay and Margaret Underwood of Fort Myers, Florida; and by his father, Thomas Frederick Underwood, of Fort Myers, Florida, and Columbus, Ohio. Greg is survived by his mother, Winnie A. Underwood of Fort Myers, Florida and Columbus, Ohio; and by his five siblings and their spouses, Debra (Tom) Minto of Columbus, Ohio; Sandra (Rick) Chojnacki of South Milwaukee, Wisconsin; David (Susan) Underwood of Jefferson City, Tennessee; Jeffrey (Linda) Underwood of Orlando, Florida; and Bradley (Nicki) Underwood of Windermere, Florida. Greg is also survived by five nieces and nephews, Joshua Minto, Zachary Minto, Danielle Chojnacki, Benjamin Chojnacki, and Hannah Chojnacki, and by four great-nieces. He is survived by very special dear friends Charlie Day of Hickory, North Carolina; LeAnn Rice and family of Hendersonville, North Carolina; and Rhonda Maundy and family of Matthews, North Carolina. The family wishes to thank Charlie, LeAnn, and Rhonda, and also pastor Ed Thomas and the congregation of The Spirit of Joy Church, for their individual and collective relentless loving care of Greg as he fought his cancer through many chemo treatments, four major surgeries, and several trial drug treatments over a 4-plus year struggle. Greg will be remembered for his deep love of family and friends, his Christian service to others, his dedication to music and the teaching of music, his dry wit and humor, his great intellect, and his love of nature and the outdoors. A memorial service is being planned at The Spirit of Joy Church in Matthews, NC, and the Heritage Funeral Home of Mathews, NC is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Cancer Society.
