Mark Hardeman

Some of the most meaningful things a man builds can never be measured in boards, pilings, or years of work. They are found in a marriage nurtured over decades, in sons who remember looking up and seeing their dad in the stands, and in friendships formed along the waterfront.

Mark Alan Hardeman built all of these—a life rooted in family, shaped by the water, and strengthened by faith.

Mark passed away on October 16, 2026, at the age of 67, following a brief but courageous battle with cancer.

Born on September 15, 1959, in Memphis, Tennessee, to James and Patricia Hardeman, Mark spent only the first two weeks of his life there before beginning the travels familiar to a military family. His father’s service as an Air Force officer took the family to different places before they eventually settled in Greensboro, North Carolina. There, Mark graduated from Grimsley High School before attending the University of North Carolina Wilmington, where he earned his degree in marine biology.
It was during a spring break trip to Cocoa Beach, Florida, that Mark met Denise Hicks, the young woman who would become his wife. In a wonderful coincidence, they discovered that they both attended UNCW and lived only a few blocks apart. They had traveled to Florida to meet someone who had been close by all along. From that chance encounter grew a romance, a marriage, and 42 years of sharing life together. Along the way, Mark and Denise built a family that became the heart of his life.

The coast proved to be a fitting place for Mark to make his home and his living. As co-owner of Coastal Marine Contractors, he helped build docks and bulkheads throughout the area, leaving behind work that remains part of the waterfront he loved. In more recent years, he managed Cape Pointe Marina on Harkers Island. It was a role that suited him well, bringing together his knowledge of the water and the opportunity to know the people who shared his love for it. The marina became a place of many friendships and lasting connections.

Mark was happiest with opportunities to be outdoors. He loved offshore fishing and was fortunate to participate in the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament for a number of years. He also enjoyed deer hunting. Whether on the ocean or in the woods, the outdoors held a special place in his life. So did the dogs he loved throughout the years, each one a cherished part of his family.

For all his interests and accomplishments, some of Mark’s most meaningful hours were spent beside a baseball field. He coached his sons’ teams when they were growing up, giving his time and sharing those seasons of childhood with them. When their playing days took them beyond the teams he could coach, his support continued. On the sidelines or in the stands, Mark was there, seldom missing an opportunity to cheer them on. His presence was a steady expression of a father’s love—one his sons will carry long beyond those games.

Mark was an active and devoted member of Croatan Church of Christ, where his faith and church family were important parts of his life.

He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Denise Hicks Hardeman; his sons, Ross Hardeman and wife, Meredith, and Matt Hardeman and wife, Samantha; his grandchildren, Ryan Hardeman, Lucy Hardeman, and James Hardeman; and his sister, Melissa Julian and husband, Mark. His family also awaits the arrival of another grandson, Harris Alan Hardeman, who will carry Mark’s middle name—a tender connection between a grandfather deeply loved and a new life still to come.

He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Patricia Hardeman, and his parents-in-law, Jimmie and Glenda Hicks.

Family and friends are invited to a celebration of Mark's life at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 22, 2026 at The Maola at Riverside, 1400 N. Craven Street, New Bern, NC 28560. A reception will follow the service.

Mark’s memory will live in familiar places: along the docks, out on the water, beside a baseball field, and within the church he loved. Most of all, it will live in his family—in the stories they tell, the years they shared, and the lasting assurance that he loved them and showed up for them.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Croatan Church of Christ.

Bennett Funeral & Cremation Care is honored to serve the family and friends of Mark Alan Hardeman.