June 24, 1962 ~ Aug. 25, 2022
Cedric Locklear, 60, of Chapel Hill, died Thursday, Aug. 25, at home from natural causes.
Cedric was born in Lumberton, Roberson County, N.C., on June 24, 1962, to Alvia Bolin Locklear and the late Howard Lee Locklear. In the service of the military, Cedric’s family lived in Camp Legune and Fayetteville, and as well as Arlington, Virginia. Cedric was a proud member of the Lumbee American Indian Tribe.
Cedric graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry from North Carolina State University in 1982. After a short time in the military, Cedric worked for the North Carolina Forest Service, an environmental engineering company and the Army Corps of Engineers, all levering his forest science skills. Cedric volunteered as a forest fire fighter and helped to extinguish several big western fires. In 2004, Cedric pivoted his career towards computer network engineering. Driven and self-taught, he earned many credentials, along with a top-top-secret security clearance and spent over 15 years contracting as a Systems Architect for the Pentagon and other government agencies.
Cedric was a national and world level ultimate frisbee competitor. He was a long-time member of the ultimate frisbee community in North Carolina and Washington, D.C., starting in 1980. Cedric was a founding member of Ring of Fire, the current national champions. Through the sport, he created many friendships that lasted his entire adult life. While a fierce competitor, Cedric was sensitive, loving and always ready to give a big bear hug. He was a loyal, ideal teammate on and off the field, even as the actual playing became infrequent. As one of his teammates said, “Cedric filled up a room in such a bright and friendly way.”
Surviving relatives include his son, Grady Locklear of Chapel Hill; one brother, Darryl Locklear of Fayetteville; his mother, Alvia Locklear of Chapel Hill; and many cousins and great friends. While not married at the time of his death, Cedric’s ex-wife Theresa Locklear, whom he married twice (the first time at a Frisbee tournament in 1993), was an integral part of his life through to the end.
Cedric was very devoted to his family and mother.
The family received friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 29, at Donaldson Funeral Home & Crematory Griffin Chapel, 396 West St., Pittsboro, N.C. 27312.
The family received friends from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 30, at Revels Funeral Home, 3575 N. Roberts Ave., Lumberton, N.C. The funeral service followed at 2 p.m. with Rev. Rodney Hunt presiding. Burial followed in Oxendine Cemetery, 781 Rennert Road, Lumberton, N.C.
In lieu of flowers the family asks for donations to be made in Cedric’s memory to the Ring of Fire Foundation. This non-profit organization works to help people pay to play in ultimate frisbee tournaments that they otherwise would not be able to attend due to finances. Donations can be made online: https://ringfirefoundation.betterworld.org/campaigns/cedric-locklear, or checks can be sent via mail to: Ring of Fire, 1210 Franklin Street, Durham, N.C., 27701.
Condolences may be made at: www.donaldsonfunerals.com.
Donaldson Funeral Home & Crematory is honored to serve the Locklear family.