Riley Corcoran Hedrick

Riley Corcoran Hedrick (born Marie Riley Corcoran) passed away peacefully at her home on October 11, 2025, age 73, with her devoted husband at her side. After a courageous two-year battle with Sarcoma Cancer, Riley's body finally surrendered, but her tenacious spirit and sharp mind never wavered. She leaves behind a legacy of kindness, dedication, and unwavering support for family and friends. Riley was known for her gentle kindness, warm heart, and the positive impact she made on everyone who had the privilege of knowing her. She was a humble person who focused her attention on family and friends.

Riley was always in wonder of the joys in nature. She treasured her house on a hill in the woods near Goodlettsville, Tennessee where she measured the changing seasons by the arrival and departure of turkeys, six-point bucks, and hummingbirds. It brought her peace, joy, and inspiration to be surrounded by nature with the wonderful bounty of animals and forest plants.

She was born in Nashville on June 8, 1952, to Bernie and Louise Corcoran as a 6th generation Nashvillian. Her ancestors helped settle Nashborough/Nashville in the 1780’s. She grew up in the Rosebank community of East Nashville surrounded by a large and close-knit family of grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins with the last names of Corcoran, Gordon, Riley, Allen, Cockrill, Huggins and Castle. They frequently met for family get-togethers with great food and plenty of laughter. She attended St. Bernard Academy and graduated from Stratford High School in 1970. She later received a business degree from Aquinas College.

From an early age, Riley was a voracious reader. This passion was ignited in the public library, where the magical world of books became her lifelong passion. Annually devouring over 100 books, she drew joy, knowledge, and hope from the pages. At twelve, she received a copy of Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” from her mother. The novel affected Riley so deeply that she reread it every year. She credited the story as foundational for many of her principles; namely, that all people deserve to be treated equally with understanding, kindness, compassion, and justice.

Driven by a desire for independence after high school, Riley took her first job as a secretary in an insurance office. She moved with a friend into a small apartment they shared on the top floor of a large home on Eastland Avenue in East Nashville. Later, while searching for more opportunity, she accepted a position as an assistant buyer for the Jack Daniel's Lynchburg Hardware and General Store catalog. What followed was a remarkable 32-year career with the Jack Daniel Distillery and its parent company, Brown-Forman. She quickly became an invaluable member of the Nashville marketing team, where her combination of talent, hard work, intelligence, tenacity, and a knack for connecting with people set her apart. She specialized in consumer and sales promotions, coordinating with advertising and promotion agencies and managing the promotional needs of the sales force. Her dedication to the Lynchburg community was evident as she lovingly oversaw the Hardware and General Store. One highlight of her career was the implementation of the Jack Daniel’s Invitational BBQ Championship. The event started in 1989 and now, every October, it attracts champion pitmasters and some 40,000 visitors to the tiny town. When Brown-Forman moved its marketing offices to Louisville in 1995, Riley embraced the new challenge, relocating to headquarters to expand her role with Jack Daniel’s and other Brown-Forman spirit brands.

During her son Todd’s childhood, Riley took him to 100+ concerts, always surrounded him with music, supported his record buying habit, and never told him to “turn it down” when he turned it up. When Todd was 17, she even drove him and three friends 20 hours to upstate New York for Woodstock ’94. Music was clearly their biggest bond.

On Valentine's Day 1997, Riley and Dan Hedrick were married, beginning 28 years of adventure together. Their honeymoon was a test of endurance—a wilderness backpacking trip in the Grand Canyon—but they soon discovered a shared passion for a different kind of challenge: sailing. With Dan’s help, Riley became an accomplished sailor, and the couple went on to win the Flying Scot Dinghy race at the Kentucky Games. Their love of the water often took them to the British Virgin Islands, where they chartered 42-foot sailboats. With no need for additional crew they navigated to quiet, secret coves. They spent their days snorkeling, reading, unwinding with Jack Daniel's and preparing gourmet meals in the small galley, all while facing down the occasional storm. Beyond sailing, their spirit of adventure took them across the US and Europe. They particularly loved wandering off the beaten paths in England, Scotland, and Ireland.

Upon retiring, Riley and Dan returned to Nashville, but Riley's new chapter was just beginning. Fueled by a shared vision with Todd, she decided to open a business in East Nashville. The result was Vinyl Tap, a unique combination of a vinyl record store, bar, and intimate music venue. Opened in 2016, Vinyl Tap has since become a true local hub, welcoming all neighbors, friends, and visitors. When Todd dreamed up Vinyl Tap years before it opened, she said, “you’ve got this” and she was by his side all the way providing invaluable business savvy and never-ending encouragement and support behind the scenes.

Riley was a truly lovely person, inside and out—a witty, adventurous confidant and a devoted spouse to Dan for 28 years. Their time together passed too quickly, and they eagerly anticipated many more adventures. She shared a strong, loving bond with her son Todd and daughter Katherine. Her connection with her 12-year-old granddaughter Amelia, however, was extraordinary. Both avid readers and Jeopardy! watchers, they delighted in each other's company, sharing a love for music from the Beatles to Beethoven. As a wonderful listener to Amelia's spirited conversations, Riley especially cherished their late-night "Yapping" in the dark during their weekly Friday night sleepovers. Riley took immense pride in all of Amelia’s accomplishments, praising her academic and acting talents, her compassion, wit, and self-confidence. She saw in Amelia a kind, loving, and principled young lady, much like the character Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird.

Riley will be remembered for a life well-lived and a heart well-shared. Her compassionate spirit, warm smile, and steadfast friendship touched countless lives. Her memory will be held close by the family and friends she leaves behind.

Preceded in death by her parents, Bernard and Louise Gordon Corcoran, and brother, Patrick Corcoran. She is survived by son, Todd Patrick (Gabby) Hedrick, daughter, Katherine Ann Hedrick, granddaughter, Amelia Riley Hedrick, husband, Dan Hedrick, and her 3 cats- Buddy, Artemis, and Mo Junior.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, November 9, 2025, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Vinyl Tap, located at 2038 Greenwood Ave., Nashville, TN. The family invites attendees to wear their favorite t-shirt to the celebration—one that best represents a message, music, book, or sports team that resonates with you.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Riley's name to a local library, the American Library Association, or a charity of your choice. Your contribution will honor her deep-seated belief in sharing knowledge and purpose with others.