Cornelia Hijiya's Obituary
Cornelia Anne Dick Hijiya was born on March 13, 1931, in Moultrie, Georgia, daughter of the Reverend Anthony White Dick and Mary Louise Witherspoon Dick. She passed away peacefully on December 28, 2024, at The Pines in Davidson, North Carolina.
A devoted educator and lifelong learner, Cornelia graduated in 1948 from Central High School in Memphis, Tennessee, and in 1952 from Queens University in Charlotte, North Carolina. She later received her Masters degree in Education from Boise State University, Boise, Idaho. A dedicated missionary and university teacher of English in Japan, she loved children, students, and her church. Her passion for English literature, world history, religious studies, and music shaped her life and career at Shikoku Gakuin University and other institutions in Japan before continuing in her retirement as a tutor in Davidson. She was an active member of Davidson Presbyterian Church, involved in the Church’s educational programs for children.
In addition to her parents, Cornelia was preceded in death by her brother, Anthony White Dick, Jr. She is survived by her husband, Yukihito Hijiya; sister-in-law, Lacy Woods Dick; brother-in-law Masashi Hijiya (Hatsumi); niece, Elizabeth Grier Dick (Ron Serino); nephews, Daniel Woods Dick, Anthony White Dick III (Ruth Burts); nieces-in-law, Tomoko Hijiya, Masako Hijiya, Akiko Hijiya; nephews-in-law, Yoshiya Hijiya (Junko), Kenji Hijiya (Masako).
Memorial contributions may be made to Davidson Presbyterian Church, 214 Depot St, PO Box 535, Davidson, NC 280236 or Children’s Hope Alliance, 194 Barium Springs Dr., Statesville, NC 28677.
The service for Cornelia Hijiya will be 11am Saturday, January 25 at Davidson Presbyterian Church, 214 Depot St, Davidson, NC.
James Funeral Home of Huntersville is serving the family.
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