IRA HAMM
April 30, 1922-Feb. 22, 2015
Funeral services for deacon Ira Hamm, 606 11th St., Goldsboro, will be held Sunday 2 p.m. at Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church, 4460 U.S. 13 North, Goldsboro. Interment New Spruill Cemetery Bartlett Road in Pikeville, N.C.
A wake will be held Saturday evening from 6 to 7 p.m. at Bible Faith Missionary Baptist Church on Slocumb Street.
Born April 30, 1922, in Wayne County, he was the eldest son of the late Georgianna Spruill Hamm and Lawrence Freeman Hamm Sr.
Siblings Margie, Hugh Morris, William, Lawrence Jr., Lucille and Eva predeceased him.
As a youngster, he attended Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church with his family, where he became a member as a teenager. Deacon Hamm worked diligently throughout the years in various capacities.
Recent years, he moved his membership with the Rev. Mumford to Bible Faith Missionary Baptist Church, where he served faithfully until his health failed. He was a pioneer at both churches.
Deacon Hamm was married to Beulah Worthington Hamm, who preceded him in death June 4, 2004.
They were blessed with three children, Curtis, Gary and Portia (Toni).
At the passing of Beulah's sister, Ethel, Beulah and Ira also raised Ethel's three youngest children.
While able, he was an active member of Bear Creek Association.
He studied theology at Shaw Seminary Ext. and graduated. His former junior education included attending the public schools of Wayne County and graduating Dillard High School class of 1950.
An honorably discharged member of the United States Army, he often talked about his tour in the Philippines, his job in the United States Army as a mechanic and the sound of the bomb on Pearl Harbor.
Ira was employed by the Goldsboro News-Argus as a pressman and foreman for more than 33 years until his retirement. He loved his job, the Tanners and the News-Argus family.
In his leisure time, he enjoyed bowling, and received several bowling trophies.
He participated in charitable events, assisting with the Empty Stocking Fund and numerous other functions to help the less fortunate.
At other times you could find him playing his harmonica. He was known as "The Harmonica Man."
We could go on and on and tell more stories of a life well spent, a life dedicated to serving God and others, a life of goodwill and giving and sharing of himself and more. What an amazing life and what a way to have lived his life daily making preparations to meet his master. What a way to define "rich" and not meaning silver or gold.
Survivors are sons, Curtis Hamm (Eleanor) of Milford, Del., and Garry Hamm of Georgia; daughter, Portia (Toni) Hamm of Goldsboro; granddaughters, Sterling Hamm-Jones, Aleacia Hamm-Jones, Antonia H. Swain (Julien), Vonda Hamm and Nikki Hamm all of Goldsboro; grandsons, Curtis Hamm Jr. (Sara) of Milford, Del., and Gary Octavious Deans of Goldsboro; brother; Jerald Hamm (Mary) of Willingham, N.J.; sisters, Carolyn H. Jones (pastor Andrew Jones) and Shirley H. Butler (pastor W.A.) of Goldsboro, N.C.; and other relatives.
He was preceded in death by his granddaughter, Kimberly Johnson Hamm of Milford Del., who predeceased him by eight days, her final rites Feb. 21, 2015, his passing Feb. 22, 2015.
The family will be receiving friends at the home of his daughter, Portia, 609 11th St.
Funeral services have been entrusted to J.B. Rhodes Funeral Home and Cremations.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on February 26, 2015 1:51 PM