Dr. Marcus Lafayette Aderholdt Jr.

1915 - 2011

Dr. Marcus Lafayette Aderholdt Jr. obituary, 1915-2011, Thomasville, NC

FUNERAL HOME

Sechrest-Davis Funerals and Cremations

976 Phillips Ave

High Point, North Carolina

Marcus Aderholdt Obituary

Published by Legacy Remembers on Dec. 11, 2011.

Poignantly, according to God's plan, Mark Aderholdt peacefully joined his beloved wife Mary Minor on December 8, 2011, eight years and one hour after her death in 2003. Serendipitously, they also shared the same birthday, September 29, 1915 (Mark) and l921 (Mary Minor). They were married March 25, 1944, and shared 59 years and 8 months of a loving marriage devoted to their God, each other, their children and grandchildren, and each other's causes and passions.
Dr. Marcus Lafayette Aderholdt, Jr. of Piedmont Crossing was born in Burke County, North Carolina, the only son of Marcus L. Aderholdt, Sr. and Emma Gertrude Carpenter. His family moved to a farm in northern Davidson County soon after his birth. He was preceded in death by each of his five older sisters, Mrs. Betty Chloe Byerly (E.C. Byerly), Mrs. B. Kathryn Frye (Glenn R. Frye), Mrs. E. Arminta Byerly (M. Paul Byerly), Miss E. Aileen Aderholdt, and Miss Mabel C. Aderholdt. He graduated from Welcome High School and received an AB degree in Chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1937. At Chapel Hill he developed an appreciation for the long hard hours on the farm. Those hours earned him a place on the University's cross-country and track teams earning varsity letters in both sports. He also played in the marching band.
Mark began his medical education in Chapel Hill's two year program and completed his degree at the University of Maryland. He interned at Mercy Hospital in Baltimore and enlisted in the Army Medical Corp on January 5, 1944. Following basic training, he was assigned to the 119th General Hospital in Blandford, England where he treated orthopedic injuries. He was promoted to Captain in February 1945 and honorably discharged August 31, 1946.
Following his military service, Dr. Aderholdt completed a residency training program in pediatrics at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. He opened his pediatric practice in 1948 in High Point. He was joined in the practice by Dr. Vernon W. McFalls in1962. In 1964 he was named chief-of-staff for High Point Memorial Hospital. His calm manner successfully guided the hospital and community through the integration process. He was blessed to be able to fulfill his life-long dream of caring for children for 43 years, retiring in May 1991.
Dr. Aderholdt was active in Emmanuel Lutheran Church, serving on the church council, as church treasurer, and on the stewardship committee for the N. C. Synod of the Lutheran Church of America. He later became a member of Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church where his grandchildren were active in the Church's music program. For over fifty years, he was a Kiwanian, serving as chairman of the boys and girls committee.
He worked with the county and state medical societies, serving on the board of directors and as treasurer of each society. He was a member of the state pediatric society. Dr. Aderholdt also devoted his time and talents to the March of Dimes, the kindergarten for special needs children, Maryfield Nursing Home, and the United Way.
Dr. Aderholdt served as medical advisor to the local American Red Cross Chapter and was chairman of the executive board of Piedmont Regional Red Cross Blood Center. For 40 years, Dr. Aderholdt worked to help High Point's children in the well-baby clinic at the Guilford County Health Department. Every baby there was as important to him as his own. He talked to them and their mothers about the importance of reading, music, sports, good nutrition and vaccinations.
Mark Aderholdt is perhaps best remembered for opening the door to camp and sports for thousands of High Point youngsters over the years. Often, his free pre-season physical examinations were the only physicals they received during their teen-age years. He was happy when Tony Simeon invited him to ride the bus with the team. His beloved Mary Minor never complained about being home alone on a Friday night for away games or in the stands by herself when he was walking the sideline with Coach Simeon. Many football seasons he was at middle school games on Thursday evenings, high school games on Friday nights, and Carolina games on Saturdays – such a hard life!!! Before the Special Olympics became a recognized and established concept, Mark Aderholdt realized its importance and agreed to screen those children for the High Point Parks and Recreation Department. The track at the High Point Athletic Complex is named for him. Winning or losing, he loved his Tarheels and the teams of the ACC universities which his grandchildren attended.
Mark was recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow and the High Pointer of the Year by the High Point Human Relations Commission in 1989. One of the most fun events of his life occurred in 1996 when he was selected to run the Olympic Torch into High Point.
Dr. Aderholdt is survived by three daughters, Carol Minor Aderholdt Harris of High Point, Sarah Winston Aderholdt of Silver Spring, Md., and Laura Anne Aderholdt Roberts and husband Michael of Bethesda, Md.; two sons, William Maclin Aderholdt and wife Mary of Miami, Fl. and John Marcus Aderholdt and wife Hattie of Greensboro; and six grandchildren, Anthony Harris and wife Emma of Chevy Chase, Md., Mary Carol Harris of High Point, Dr. Lauren Elizabeth Aderholdt of Blacksburg, Va., William Marcus Aderholdt of Greensboro, Carl Edward Roberts and Alan Marcus Roberts of Bethesda, Md. He is also survived by three nieces and two nephews.
Visitation will be Friday, December 16th from 6 – 8 pm in the Asbury Room and Chapel at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, 1225 Chestnut Drive and at other times at his daughter's home. A memorial service will be held at 3 p. m. Saturday, December 17th in the sanctuary of Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church with Dr. Al Ward, Dr. Ben Witherington III and Mrs. Barbara Coughlin, D. Min. officiating.
The family wishes to thank Dr. Vernon McFalls, Dr. Paul Coughlin, Dr. Barry Cheek, Dr. Keith Miller, and Dr. Lyle Smith for their dedicated care of Dr. Aderholdt. The staff of Piedmont Crossing and care givers Ruth Levesque, Darla Lee, Jeffrey Lewis and Nova May of Home Instead were devoted in their attentive care and love of Mark.
Dr. Aderholdt's family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, Emmanuel Lutheran Church, the High Point Community Foundation, the High Point Regional Health System Endowment, the Salvation Army Boys' and Girls' Club or any organization of the donor's choice serving children.
Sechrest Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.
From Mark Aderholdt: "Thank you to my patients and their parents for trusting me, to the coaches, teachers, and music educators of High Point City Schools for working with me, to the nurses in the nursery, on pediatrics, and in the ER at High Point Regional Hospital for always having my back, to the police department who was always there for our children, to Dr. McFalls and our nurses for being there for our patients, to the staff of the Guilford County Health Department for helping me help babies and have fun, to the Salvation Army Boys' and Girls' staff for years of progress, to the hosiery and furniture leaders of High Point who always said yes to my requests to help children and to every doctor in High Point who hated seeing me walk towards them in August – thank you for saying yes to physicals for all boys and girls. High Point is the best place to be a doctor and to raise our family. Thank you for the wonderful life you gave me, Mary Minor and our five children. I don't have a complaint in the world and I love you all."

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5 Entries

December 17, 2011

Jim & Renee Pekarek

Bill and Mary,
What fond memories we have of all the dinners with you and your parents under the stars in your backyard. The conversation was always so stimulating with Mark and Mary Minor always sharing their experiences and opinions. Mark was a gracious and caring man who will be missed by your friends who also had the priviledge of knowing him.

December 14, 2011

RJ Smith

It was just automatic, that one would assume Dr. Aderholdt (and Dr. McFalls) would be a new baby's pediatrician! After all, he had been taking care of brothers and sisters. Went to school with Carol and Bill--so sorry for your loss, and the other family members. Fantastic legacy left.

December 13, 2011

Eduardo and Macarena Fuentes

We never had the honor of meeting Dr. Aderholdt but we have come to know him through his son William and his daughter in law Mary. We are honored to have met each and everyone of his children as well as his grandchildren. He leaves behind a beautiful family and a legacy of open heartedness and warm affection for his friends. Now we know who William takes after.
Please receive our deepest condolences to the Aderholdt family, friends and patients.

December 12, 2011

Angie Wade-Allred

Dr. Aderholdt was my mom's doctor when she was a child, as well as mine, my brother & sister's. We all thought very highly of him. He was the best pediatrian, always so happy and friendly. He truly cared about the children he treated. High Point was a better place because of his love and care. Our condolences to your family.

December 11, 2011

Renee Coleman

Dr. Aderholdt was one of the best pediatrians in the nation. He treated my kids with personal care and love and helped a child of mine that was deathly ill recover and assured me that he would be ok. Dr. Aderholdt will be truly missed and he forever left his mark in the field of heathcare and his love for children.

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