Sidney Head

Sid Head
June 6, 1932 - July 13, 2014

Sidney "Sid" Alexander Head III, 82, of Charlotte, NC, died Sunday, July 13, 2014, in the comfort of his home after courageously undergoing treatment for prostate cancer.

He was born June 6, 1932 in Columbia, Mississippi, son of Sidney Alexander Head Jr. and Coma Ball Head. Sid was a retired United Methodist minister and Marriage and Family Therapist. Sid is survived by his wife of 58 years, Sue Greenwood Head. They met at Duke University where Sid was in Divinity School and Sue was in the School of Nursing. Sid and Sue were married August 25th, 1956 at Dilworth United Methodist Church.

Sid knew he wanted to become a Methodist minister early in life and received his license to preach for the Methodist Church in the eighth grade. This began a lifelong pattern for Sid; one of being a constant student with a desire for learning and sharing his expertise. He attended Millsaps College where he received a BA in Religion and Philosophy in 1954. Sid chose to attend Duke University Divinity School and received his Master of Divinity in 1957. He then served an Internship at The Institute of Religion at Texas Medical Center in Houston, Texas. He returned to Summit, Mississippi to serve as minister for Johnston Chapel Methodist Church.

In 1959 he was appointed the first Chaplain at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas and it was there that Sid began his lifelong mission for the ministry through pastoral care and counseling. He furthered his clinical training as a pastoral counselor while studying at the Menninger Clinic and Topeka State Hospital. Marriage and Family Therapy became Sid's true ministry due to his love of working with people.

In 1965 Sid started the Methodist Counseling Center in Charlotte and served as director for nine years. During this time, Sid also received his Masters of Education at UNCC, a certification in the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy and a licensed certification in Pastoral Care and Counseling. He then became a clinical supervisor which was the highest level of achievement in American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). During the years 1971-1977, Sid was a Clinical Supervisor for the Students-In-Ministry at Union Theological Seminary in Virginia.

In 1974, Sid went into private practice as a therapist providing individual, group, family and marriage therapy until his retirement in 2005. Sid also served as an adjunct faculty at UNCC teaching and supervising in the counseling department with the late Dr. Mary Thomas Burke. As a supervisor in AAMFT, Sid continued to monitor and teach therapists, counselors, and graduate students in the field of Marriage and Family Therapy. He had many gifts when it came to understanding the dynamics involved in relationships and teaching people how to communicate. Sid was an avid reader and was especially interested in books related to health research, car technology and spiritual growth. He appreciated good food and dining out and was always trying to find the best key lime pie. He had a calm energy, a warm smile and a tenacious spirit. Not a man of small talk, he always wanted to meet and connect with people at the deepest level.

In addition to his wife, Sid is also survived by four daughters, Julie Sloop (Mike), Suzanna Head, Cathy Head (Martha Brinsko), Jane Bolt (Fred); six grandchildren, Will Sloop (Aubree), Maggie Sloop, Jon Plott, Suzanna Plott, Sally Bolt, Mary Louise Bolt; one brother, Bobby Head (Marie); and a niece Katrina Guerrero (Ralph).

Sid and the family would like to acknowledge the care and support from Dr. Reza Nazemzadah, Jeff, Allison, Kinshea, Paulette, and Jeanie from the Levine Cancer Institute; the support and prayers from the Builders Class at Myers Park United Methodist Church; and the angels from hospice, Martha Gilbert and Shyree Glasper.

A service celebrating the life of Sid Head will be held at Myers Park United Methodist Church, 1501 Queens Road, Charlotte, NC 28207, Thursday, July 17, at 2pm, with Dr. James Howell officiating. Family visitation will follow the service in Jubilee Hall.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be sent to Myers Park United Methodist Church, 1501 Queens Road, Charlotte, NC 28207; either to MPUMC-Music Fund or MPUMC Builders Class Outreach Missions in memory of Sidney Head.