Dallas William Hardee

DALLAS WILLIAM HARDEE

(Son of William "Billy" Hardee, Funeral Director of Wilmington Funeral & Cremation)

Dallas William Hardee, of Wilmington, North Carolina, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on April 6, 2025, at the age of 32. Born on January 25, 1993, in Wilmington, Dallas was a cherished husband, son, friend, and compassionate soul whose love for life and those around him left an impressionable mark on everyone who knew him.

As a child, Dallas was very energetic, always on the go. He enjoyed participating in several sports, especially baseball and soccer, his favorite. He was an avid reader and excelled in math and science. As he grew older, he enjoyed many projects that involved using his hands and his mechanically-inclined abilities. He attended Laney High School and for his senior class project, he built a robotic mechanical arm to demonstrate how important robotics would be in helping disabled individuals to live a more independent life.

He was a member of Freedom Baptist Church and at the young age of 9 he invited Jesus into his heart as his Lord and Savior and was baptized on April 7, 2002. Dallas had a charitable nature and he demonstrated his faith through kindness, always willing to offer a helping hand to those less fortunate. He would often go out of his way to help others, whether offering the shirt off his back or just being a good friend.

Dallas had a passion for cooking and found much joy in cooking for others, especially his wife, Julia. His most favorite job was working as a cook/chef in the kitchen of a restaurant, serving up a delicious meal for a favorite customer or two. His favorite food in the world was chicken pastry, but it had to be his beloved Granny’s chicken pastry. She would cook it for him all the time and he loved it. No one else’s would match up to hers. After her passing, he strived to cook the chicken pastry, just like hers, as she had done for him many times before. At the time of his passing, his wife, Julia, professed proudly that he had indeed achieved that!

Beyond his charitable nature, Dallas treasured every moment he spent with his beloved wife and soulmate, Julia, and their cherished pets. Dallas had a profound love for animals, which reflected his caring and generous nature. Although he and his wife had several fur babies, it was their dog, Marley, that became his best buddy. Dallas and Julia would often find themselves with more and more fur babies as another one had to be rescued. Nothing brought Dallas more pleasure and joy than to be curled up with one or all of his fur babies.

Dallas had a very loving spirit and he showed that love to others around him, especially his family and friends. Although there were times he struggled with life, he embraced his life and would strive to live it to the fullest. Sadly, knowing now, that his life has ended way too soon, his family grieves for him and will miss him dearly, but they know by the grace of God that he is in heaven and we will see him again one day.

Dallas is preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Odell Hardee and Sara Allene Leonard Hedgecock, as well as, his maternal grandparents, William Lawton Bunn and Annie Pearl Bunn, known affectionately as Granny.

Dallas is survived by his beloved wife, Julia Mancari of the home; his parents, William (Billy) and Barbara Hardee of Wilmington; his mother-in-law, Brandy Mancari; his grandmother, Julia Mancari (known affectionately as Yaya); his loving fur babies, especially his buddy, Marley; along with a host of many family members and friends who will forever cherish his memory.

The funeral service to honor Dallas’s life will be held at 12:00 PM on Saturday, April 12, 2025, at Freedom Baptist Church, 802 N. College Rd, Wilmington, officiated by Pastor Dodd Mays. A time of visitation will be held one hour prior to the funeral service. Following the service, he will be laid to rest at Oleander Memorial Gardens.

Pallbearers will include family members and friends Earl Bunn, Ron Gallimore, Brian Bunn, Michael Sullivan, Heather Fowler, and Scott Grissom.

The family extends heartfelt thanks to the Wilmington Police Department, Wilmington Fire Department, Novant Health New Hanover Rescue Unit, the Medical ICU staff and the ER staff at Novant Health New Hanover Medical Center for their care and compassion given to Dallas and his family. Additionally, sincere gratitude is given to Wilmington Funeral and Cremation for their unwavering support during this difficult time.

Online condolences may be sent in memory of Dallas at www.wilmingtoncares.com.

Arrangements entrusted to Wilmington Funeral and Cremation, 1535 South 41st Street, Wilmington, NC 28403, 910-791-9099.