Harry James Hart Jr., known to most as “Sonny,” went home to be with his Lord and Savior on December 30, 2025, at the age of 55. He lived a life defined by hard work, humor, and a heart that belonged entirely to his family and his Savior.

Born in Norfolk, Virginia, on October 16, 1970, Sonny spent his early childhood in Chesapeake, Virginia, before moving to Bolton, North Carolina, with his parents. A graduate of Hallsboro High School, Sonny followed in the footsteps of his father, Harry “Butch” Hart, embracing the life of a farmer — rising early, tilling the soil, the honest work of the land.

Sonny’s true heart was with his family. In Whiteville, North Carolina, a chance meeting with Melissa on a blind date set up by friends changed everything. That spark blossomed into 33 years of a deep devoted love — a marriage rooted in faith, filled with laughter, and anchored by a promise to walk through life hand in hand.

Sonny and Melissa together built a home overflowing with love for their children — Josh, Madison, and Logan — in the certainty that they were loved and guided towards the Lord. Sonny’s greatest mission was ensuring his wife and children were safe, supported, and that they knew his Savior.

Sonny’s greatest joy and calling was his family. While many knew him for his humor, his family knew him for his faith. Every night, bowing his knee in humble dependence on Christ, praying to have the ability to lead his family with grace and trust in God. A devoted Deacon at Bolton Baptist Church, Sonny didn’t just believe the Gospel, he lived it with compassion. He was slow to anger and a soft place to land for those in need. His faith wasn’t loud, it was lived — in compassion, in humility, in the way he witnessed to everyone he met, wanting everyone to know the Lord that he knew so intimately.

To know Sonny was to be teased by him. A legendary “talker,” he could spend all night on the phone, turning strangers into friends and friends into family. He was a "Mopar man" through and through and heaven help the friend caught driving a Ford or a Chevy, as they were sure to receive a round of friendly harassment that always ended in a laugh. He was a father figure to many, a listener to all, and a man whose impact stretched far beyond the fields he farmed.

He is survived by his cherished wife and love of his life, Melissa Hart; his children, Josh Hart, Madison (and husband Colvet) King, and Logan Hart; his parents, Harry and Carolyn Hart; his parents-in-law James and Yvonne Sarvis, and his brothers, John (and wife Heidi) Hart and Wayne (and wife Nikki) Hart, his brother-in-law Jamie (and wife Emily) Sarvis. He was a proud uncle to Casey, Avery, Austin, Kelsey, Riley, Aidan, Mia, and Lily.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at 3:00 PM at Bolton Baptist Church, 126 Poplar Ave, Bolton, NC 28423. The family will receive visitors and friends during a visitation starting at 2:00 PM in the sanctuary, with a reception to follow in the fellowship hall at 4:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Sonny’s memory to the Bolton Baptist Church Family Life Center Fund, a lasting wish Sonny had before he went home to the Lord.

Sonny’s family finds peace and joy in the promise of the Resurrection, knowing that while he is absent from the body, he is present with the Lord, waiting for us in glory, until we meet again.

A devoted husband who loved his wife beyond words.

A great dad who carried their hearts in his.

A faithful servant now hearing “Well Done.”

Online condolences may be made at www.peacockfuneralhome.net