Adrian McCormick

Adrian Damont “Big A” McCormick was born Saturday, March 30, 1985 in Scotland County to David and Rhonda McCormick. He departed this life on Sunday, August 11, 2024 at UNC Health in Chapel Hill, NC at age 39.

In addition to hi parents, Adrian is survived by his former wife Lindsey McCormick; his daughters Adriana and Aniyah; and his son Adrian Deshawn. He is also survived by his paternal grandmother Clara McCormick; his sister, Danielle McCormick (Crystal), nephews Isaiah, Noah, Lucas; and a niece Nevaeh; a brother Andre Smith; his Aunt Sandra Helton and Uncle Tony of Charlotte; his Aunt Connie McDougald and Uncle Cedric of Red Springs; his Uncle James Locklear and Aunt Mary of Pembroke, N.; Aunt Yondell Hailey and Uncle Eric of Southern Pines, NC; and Aunt Phylania Pleasant of Norfolk, VA; special cousins Ashley Lester and Samantha Cummings; a special friend Nakayla Jones; and a host of friends and relatives.

Adrian was preceded by his paternal grandfather George McCormick; and his maternal grandparents, James Lewis “Dick” Locklear and Dorothy Woods.

Adrian was a dedicated provider to his family and a devoted father to his three children. He was a tree surgeon by trade and was noted for his abilities working in the bucket truck and climbing massive trees to cut them down. He helped his tree company with the cleanup in New Orleans, L.A. after Hurricane Katrina in late August 2005. Adrian learned to use chainsaws at an early age working in the logging industry with his grandfather, the late James Lewis “Dick” Locklear. He worked with Burford’s Tree until a traffic accident left him paralyzed on Labor Day 2015 while he was dove hunting with his son Deshaw.

Adrian’s father David McCormick introduced Adrian and Danielle to the sports of hunting and fishing at an early age. He started following his father into the woods hunting and fishing shortly after he started walking. Adrian became a highly skilled hunter and fisherman, and still fished on the pontoon boat with his friends despite being paralyzed and in a wheelchair.

The family raised three field champion trial dogs. Dogs were another of his passions and he loved his German Shepard, Diamond; his Pitbull, Gucci; and his Bully, Big Thirty.

Adrian was also a gun enthusiast and enjoyed target shooting with friends and family even in his wheelchair. He competed in turkey shoots prior to his accident and was a highly regarded coon hunter as well.

His greatest love as a child was baseball and he idolized former Kansas City Royals baseball star Bo Jackson. Adrian was an all-star at three levels of baseball as a child, starting with T-ball as a four-year-old in 1989. He played baseball and football briefly at Red Springs High School, but eventually turned his attention to his beloved outdoor sports of hunting and fishing. Adrian earned the name “Big A” as a 6-foot 8-inch gentle giant. He was always willing to help friends and family, his greatest loves in life other than the Lord. He enjoyed cookouts and watching sports on TV on the weekend, and always had a knack of getting the family together for some of their most memorable moments, including the past 10 Super Bowls.

Adrian was greatly loved and will be greatly missed.

RIP Big A

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