Obituary of Halcyon MacKnight-Moore
Halcyon MacKnight-Moore passed away on the evening of October 5, 2022, surrounded by her husband and baby brother at Hospice of High Point. Halcyon was born on November 17, 1960, at the Hargreaves Memorial Hospital in Mandeville, Jamaica, West Indies, to Joyce Brown (nee Roach) and Roy Smith. Halcyon was a happy baby with a beautiful smile and a commanding spirit. Halcyon spent her formative years in Jamaica and was affectionately called Tudie by her grandfather, who nurtured her free spirit and strong character. As the story goes, the family knew she had a talent for running from way back then when none of the boys she played with could keep up or catch her.
Halcyon migrated to the United States at 10 years of age and was adopted by her grandparents, Gretel and Donald MacKnight, who were lovingly known as Mama and Dada. The three were inseparable, and no greater bond could be found between parent and child. Growing up in New York, Halcyon was active in church and the community. Halcyon started her track and field career at Inwood Junior High School; the rest we can say is history. Halcyon set records at John F Kennedy High School, the Police Athletic League (PAL), and the Armory in New York. She was later inducted into the Kennedy HS and the PAL Hall of Fame in November 2003.
Halcyon continued her track and field career at the University of Kansas, winning numerous All-American and Conference titles. She is a KU Hall of Fame inductee. After her graduation from KU, she joined the Jamaican National Team and competed internationally with Team Jamaica. She traveled the world doing what she loved, developed as a professional athlete, met interesting people, and made lifelong friends. When she was no longer competing, Tudie worked as a social worker in the New York City Public School system and coached the Bronx-Manhattan Federation Track Team. During her time as “Coach,” Bronx-Manhattan was the largest team and most talented team in the Northeastern Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Under her coaching, athletes qualified for Junior Nationals grew in their talent and matured into disciplined adults who know the meaning of dedication and hard work.
Wanting a change of pace, Tudie moved to North Carolina, where she started work as a social worker, and after years of dealing with the constant challenges of Children Services, she left the field to pursue a Track and Field coaching career. She started coaching at Pine Forest High School and then went on to coach at UNC-Chapel Hill, Methodist, and ended her collegiate track and field coaching career at Winston-Salem University. With her talent for coaching and bringing out the best in all her athletes, Tudie became an athletic agent. She also worked with two semi-pro football teams. In addition to delivering strength training and conditioning for both teams, she was the Special Teams and Defensive Back coach for the Fayetteville Ruff Riders from 2003-05 and Defensive Back Coach for the Carolina Heat from 2006-09. And always learning and wanting to try something new, she trained in Mixed Martial Arts for over a year.
A strong independent woman, Tudie had a love of life. Always with a smile, full of energy, and willing to share her experiences to help those around her. She was a public speaker and life coach; she was an author, teacher, mentor, friend, cousin, daughter, sister, and wife. She had a positive impact on all who met her.
In March 2013, Tudie was diagnosed with Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer. After surgery, numerous rounds of chemotherapy, and various treatments, in November 2021, she decided to forgo further cancer treatment. She fought valiantly with grace for eight-plus years. During this time, she always had a word of encouragement for those around her. She stayed active in church, and although she was no longer officially coaching, she still created workouts for athletes, facilitated workshops, gave motivational speeches, and was a life coach for anyone who needed support and encouragement.
Tudie is preceded in death by her parents, Gretel and Donald MacKnight. She is survived by her husband, Terrance Moore, and baby boy Blue.
She leaves behind immediate family Joyce and Eric Brown, Roy and Joan Smith. Conrad McKnight, Heather Brown, and Richard Brown. Paula, Karen, Phillip, Karl, Nicola, Natalee, Patricia, and Mervin. In-laws; Tiffany Brown, Donnie Joseph, Lisa and JR Taylor, Justin Taylor, Jeremy Taylor, Maurice Moore, and Yvonne Rouse. Her memories will be cherished by nieces and nephews, Jackie, Conrad Jr, Natasha, Jamel, Laylay, Joshua, Aquavajih, Anaya, William, Matthew, Luisa, Leilani, Autumn, Hudson, and an extensive extended family.
There’s no place like this place, anywhere near this place; so… this must be the place! God’s House.
Funeral services celebrating her life will be held 3:30PM Saturday, October 22, 2022 at the Kernersville Seventh-day Adventist Church, 896 Old Winston Road, Kernersville, NC 27284.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Kernersville SDA Church – Community Service at www.kernersvillesda.org Donations will go to supporting local families in need.
Friends and family may view, and sign the guestbook at www.piercejeffersonfh.com
