Olin Jackson Meeks

Olin Jackson Meeks, 89, of Greensboro, passed away peacefully at his home on May 10, 2026, surrounded by his loving family.

A funeral service will be held at 3:00 PM on Thursday, May 14, 2026, at Wilkerson Funeral Home Chapel. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. The burial will follow at Hickory Grove United Methodist Church Cemetery in Pelham, NC.

Olin was born in Leaksville to the late Tyler and Mary Land Meeks. A gifted student with a natural curiosity and strong work ethic, he graduated from North Carolina State University, then known as North Carolina State College, in 1960 with a degree in Civil Engineering. Shortly after graduation, he married the love of his life, Hilda Hanks. Together they built a beautiful life rooted in faith, family, hard work, and enduring love, celebrating 65 years of marriage in June 2025.

Following an internship with the North Carolina State Highway Department, Olin began his engineering career with the department before being recruited by Howard Needles Tammen & Bergendoff, an internationally respected engineering firm headquartered in New York City that specialized in airports, bridges, tunnels, highways, railways, and transit systems. Though grateful for the opportunity, Olin and Hilda eventually felt called back home to North Carolina, where they planted deep roots and began raising their family.

In 1976, they discovered a beautiful piece of property that would become the center of family life for decades to come. There, Olin designed and built their family home with remarkable craftsmanship and vision. Situated on the property was a historic log cabin that he and Hilda lovingly restored over the course of eleven years. What began as Hilda’s craft shop later evolved into the cherished venue known as Heritage Hill Banquets, thanks in part to the encouragement and support of Hilda’s brother, Benny Hanks. As the family celebrates Olin’s life, they also celebrate the year of Julilee: a 50-year legacy of a man whose hands, imagination, and determination created something lasting for generations to enjoy.

Olin possessed a deep appreciation for music and sang bass with the Greensboro Barber Shop Chorus. One of his favorite songs was “Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen.” His musical tastes were wonderfully broad, ranging from Broadway and big band classics to the timeless harmonies of Peter, Paul and Mary and the music of Elvis Presley.

A lifelong learner, Olin was an avid reader whose intellectual curiosity never faded. He was formerly a member of Mt. Pisgah United Methodist Church. Quietly generous and deeply principled, Olin lived a life marked by integrity, humility, and purpose. He was intentional in guiding his children, teaching them not only how to work hard, but how to think critically, continue learning, and live honorably.

Above all, Olin will be remembered as a devoted husband, father, craftsman, engineer, mentor, and friend. His legacy lives on in the family he loved so dearly, the lives he influenced, and the enduring beauty of all he built with both his hands and his heart.

Olin is survived by his loving wife, Hilda Hanks Meeks; his children Melanie and Eddie; his sister, Preston Meeks Hopkins and a large extended family. Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Stephen Shane Meeks; his sisters Dot Johnson, Alma Vestal; and his brother Gerald Meeks.

In Lieu of flowers, memorial contributions should be made to Hickory Grove United Church Cemetery Fund, C/O Connie Jones, 391 Williamson Creek Road, Ruffin, NC 27326.