Marcia Edwards Hudzik

Marcia “Marcy” Edwards Hudzik, 56, of Sanford passed away Monday, May 27, 2024.

Marcia was born in Guilford Co. on July 30, 1967 to Elaine Coggin and raised by she and Darrel Gunter. Her siblings were Ginger Thomas and the late Stacey Gunter and Joe Edwards. Marcia was raised strong in Lee County among amazing family and friends where she graduated from Lee Senior in 1985. She moved to Greensboro, North Carolina where she was a graduate of UNC Greensboro where she perused her passions in history and education with a great fondness for Rugby in her pastime. If you knew her in this time, you could find her at Lox Stop and Bagel, First Carolina Deli, or jamming to a concert of Steady Rollin’ Bob Margolin.

She met her forever love, Stephen Hudzik while in Greensboro. They were married in 1995 and later gave birth to their son, Caleb Hudzik, in 1996. She was a loving and devoted mother to raising him and her daughter, Trista Hudzik. In 2000 they moved to Asheville, North Carolina where she taught A.P. history and civics at A.C. Reynolds High school. It was in this time that she led students to Raleigh and Washington D.C. for National History Day, to Italy for World History, and was awarded the 2009 Inspirational Teacher Award by NC State University. Many who read this will remember her lively and challenging classes that pushed her students to become the best versions of themselves and to excel at their dreams and passions.

In 2016 Marcia and Steve returned to her hometown of Sanford, North Carolina where she continued to inspire students at Southern Lee High School until the 2019 cancer diagnosis limited her ability to work full-time in 2022. Despite her illness, Marcia tirelessly researched her cancer and treatment options, worked in her garden, visited with friends, and orchestrated the daily activities of her family. Ever committed to education, she continued tutoring a high school student until the very end and continued as a rock of the Sanford community which consisted of many activities, most notably her recent candidacy for School Board in the 2024 election.

Marcia devoted her life to her family, friends, and pets, with an avid interest in history, gardening, and cooking. Many of us will remember her in the yard, reading, cooking, and sitting around laughing with family and friends. If you were lucky, you may have even had the opportunity to “ride the roads” with her or go an adventure.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations made to the following Gofundme link

These funds will help establish a scholarship for a deserving ACRHS history student. The Marcia Edwards Hudzik Memorial Scholarship aims to honor her legacy by supporting an AC Reynolds senior who demonstrates academic excellence, a passion for history, and plans to major in the social sciences.

Please read more at the above link.

For those who loved, cherished, and appreciated Marcia (a.k.a. Hudzik), there will be a Celebration of Life at her and Stephen Hudzik’s home on Saturday, June 1 with a start time at 3:00 PM. There will be food and beverage but feel free to bring food as well. This shindig will be used as a time that everyone can come together to celebrate the amazing life that Marcia led and the impact she had on us all. No RSVP is needed. Please join us in fun comfortable and lively attire (no dark colors, please!) at: 1801 Carbonton Road, Sanford, NC 27330.

Marcia is survived by her husband Stephen Hudzik; her mother, Elaine Coggin of Oak Island; daughter, Trista Hudzik; son, Caleb Hudzik & his wife Melanie; stepson, Stephen Hudzik Jr, his wife Farrell & their children, Eli & Avery; sisters, Ginger Thomas & her husband Brad & her children Laurel & Nick, and April Logue & her husband Austin & their daugher, Vivian; cousins, David VonCanon & his wife Cathi, Fred VonCanon & his wife Krista , Megan VonCanon Byrd and her husband Jacob, and Ally VonCanon.