Flo Rae D. Hamby

HICKORY - Flo Rae Drum Hamby, 83, of Hickory, passed away peacefully Saturday, Jan. 31, 2009. Born Aug. 4, 1925, in Catawba County, she was the daughter of Edward and Grace Jones Drum. She was preceded in death by her parents and siblings, Flossie Mae Hines (Hickory), E. Bryte Drum (Salisbury), Hazel D. Gabriel (Newton), Craig Drum (Balls Creek), F. Yates Drum (Charlotte), R. Gladys D. Bovender (Hickory), Reid Drum (Clemmons), Johnsie D. Doyle (Hampton, Va.) Gay D. Clark (Statesville), Jerry Drum (Balls Creek), and Sue D. Simmons (Greensboro). Flo Rae grew up in the Balls Creek area of Catawba County and was a graduate of Balls Creek High School. Soon after high school, she met and fell in love with a young man from Hickory, Albert W. Hamby. They were married in August 1942. Albert's military assignments sent the couple to New York City and Miami, Fla. In 1946, Flo Rae and Albert settled in Daytona Beach, Fla., where their three children were born. The family moved to Hickory in 1961. Flo Rae and Albert joined the Adult Fellowship Class at First United Methodist Church and became lifelong friends with many fellow members. The love and support provided throughout the years by their church family was a continued blessing to Flo Rae. For the next several decades, Flo Rae was a national top-producing salesperson for Encyclopedia Britannica. Her engaging personality drew people to her and made her a trusted and very successful salesperson. Her strong work ethic and passion for living life brought her through many challenges, the most difficult was Albert's automobile accident and subsequent disability in 1983. Flo Rae insisted on caring for her husband, a quadriplegic, at their home for the rest of his life. She and Albert were supported by a caring family and dear friends in Hickory during these years, but Flo Rae was always guiding the ship. She provided a quality of life for Albert that was truly amazing, including vacations and camping. Albert Hamby died in 1996. During the early years after Albert's accident, a special young woman came to assist Flo Rae with his care. Eight years ago, when Flo Rae's own health began to decline, Dawn Hedrick returned to help again. Dawn was a trusted friend to Flo Rae throughout the years and her companionship was treasured by Flo Rae and appreciated by her family. Flo Rae is survived by her children, Rebecca H. Buckner of Jacksonville, Fla., Ted Hamby and wife, Lisa, of Lenoir, and Carol H. Welch and husband, John, of Winston-Salem; and four grandchildren, Bryan and Lauren Buckner and Sarah and Joshua Welch. A Celebration of Flo Rae Hamby's life will be held Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009, at 2 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Bob Roach officiating. The family will receive friends from 1 to 2 p.m., prior to the service at the church. Interment will follow in Woodlawn Memorial Gardens in Hickory. Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, 311 Third Ave., NE, Hickory, N.C. 28601 or Catawba Medical Foundation, 810 Fairgrove Church Road, SE, Hickory, N.C. 28602. Bass-Smith Funeral Home and Crematory in Hickory is in charge of arrangements.

This obituary was originally published in the Hickory Daily Record.