Dell Little

Dell H. Little: A Daughter Remembers

October 7, 1931–December 28, 2025

How do I think my mom, Dell H. Little, would be best remembered?

Would it be nurturing baby goats in the 1930s on a farm just outside Charlotte, then collecting scrap metal in the 1940s to support the war in which her older brother was fighting? Or perhaps inspiring classmates as Salutatorian at her high school graduation, or the passion for writing and reporting that carried her through two degrees from two universities? In these ways, my mother grew into the journalist at UNC who met and married the chemist who became my father, William F. Little. Even out of the office, Dell kept up, and made sure we all did, too. Her notes and lists flowed into letters, sometimes with poems and clipped news articles. Oh my, how mom bestowed timely newsprint upon every one of us she knew and loved.

But truly, how does one sum up a lifetime of intellectual curiosity and deep concern for our planet and all the creatures on it? I was struggling to write this summation when I came across one of mom’s many lists made a few years back. It reminded me of her dedication to the places, people, wildlife, and causes she embraced.

Across more than sixty years in Chapel Hill, you might have met her leading a group of girl scouts, seen her picking up beer cans the morning after a rowdy crowd had littered the edges of nearby Eastwood Lake, or bumped into her and Faculty Club teammates at a tennis tournament. She was often walking local greenways with friends and pets, out watching birds, or at nearby church property inspecting cherished trees threatened by the destructive Pine Beetle. Strong shoulders and a strategic mind were always engaged.

Dell, or “Oma,” became resident wisewoman the day she moved in with me, my husband, our two children, our pets, and her beloved cat Mojo. As Dell’s shoulders became brutally sore from decades of hard physical exercise and work, we tried our best to help her through the pain and changes she coped with daily. When a parent chooses to spend their last years living with a child, it is a special gift. You learn so much more about them—their why, their how, their past, their choices—and just as their problems become your concerns, so also their loves. Mom’s friends, becoming our friends, now support and enrich our lives, too.

Returning to that list, line after line, I reflected on how mom lived her ideals, supporting what she found important. Helping Church of Reconciliation topped her list, along with UNC College of Arts and Sciences and Western Carolina University—as education meant

so much to her. Her hope for better treatments found expression in her support of the Scleroderma Foundation and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Dell devotedly read the local paper every single day—this was a lifelong ritual. Our favorite WUNC-TV regularly sent her program guides as did public radio stations that I called home, once I left hers. Causes like M.A.D.D. and Shrine Circus Fund were a happy surprise to me–-until I recalled the impact of a tragic loss of teenage friends in our Lutheran Church congregation in the ‘70s, and the way mom followed the recovery of a pediatric oncology patient I’d shared a room with after my tonsillectomy. She cared for children. The World Wildlife Fund, Sierra Club, Audubon, and Triangle Land Conservancy captured Dell’s absolute love of nature and desire to protect the vulnerable. From birds to dogs, and cats to turtles, mom cared for all nature’s children. Independent Animal Rescue and the Inter-Faith Council touched her heart deeply; from Friends of Orange County Social Services and Salvation Army to UNC Botanical Garden Foundation, Dell met needs in her home state. Mom’s dedication to making this world she loved an even better place truly humbles me. It inspires me to be better committed to what I find important. So, perhaps this simple list does serve best to sum up the brilliance, heart, soul, and lasting impact of our beloved Dell Hoyle Little.

Dell was predeceased by husband Bill, sister Helen Hoyle Bridges (and Charlie) and brother Gettys Dixon “Dick” Hoyle, Jr (and Jane). She is survived by daughter Terry, son-in-law Denis, grandchildren Arianne and Julien, eight very caring nieces, four fine nephews, and some very, very dear friends—you know who you are and how much you are loved. Arrangements are by Walker’s Funeral Home of Chapel Hill. A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, March 6th at 11 a.m. at the Church of Reconciliation, 110 N Elliott Rd, Chapel Hill, NC 27514. For those unable to attend in person, the link to a live stream may be found at https://www.churchrec.org/. In lieu of flowers, consider a memorial gift for her church or any group mentioned above; or simply give back to an organization you love that needs your support.