Jamie Kirk Hahn

Jamie Kirk HahnJameson (Jamie) Kirk Hahn of Raleigh died early Wednesday at WakeMed, with her husband Nation and her family at her side. She was 29. Visitation will be 6-8 pm, Friday, April 26 at Pullen Memorial Baptist Church in Raleigh, NC. A memorial service will be held at 11 am on Saturday, April 27, also at Pullen Memorial. Jamie was a rising star in politics. She was an idealist who lived her beliefs. She dedicated her life and her labor to the goal of human dignity for all - rich and poor, black and white, young and old, gay and straight. She saw public service as the way to achieve that goal. She was taken from us too early. But she touched uncounted numbers of people whose expressions of love and support have sustained her family in this difficult time. Jamie and Nation made life and politics fun. They loved friends and food. They filled their home with celebrations of birthdays, holidays and special occasions, including most any Carolina game on television. Jamie and Nation just celebrated their fourth wedding anniversary last week at Emerald Isle, NC. Jamie was born on October 25, 1983. She attended Orangeburg (SC) Preparatory School. She fell in love with the University of North Carolina and with Chapel Hill during a visit as a high school junior. She graduated from UNC in 2006 with a degree in political science. She served on the board of the Hope Center at Pullen and was an active member of UNC's Young Alumni Association. Jamie began her career in politics as a fundraiser for Congressman David Price in 2006. During her work for Senator John Edwards' 2008 presidential campaign, she met Nation. They were married on April 18, 2009. She owned Sky Blue Strategies, a political fundraising consulting firm. Other candidates and causes for which she worked included Kenneth Lewis for US Senate, Brad Miller for US Congress, Kay Hagan for US Senate, Jane Dyer for US Congress (SC), Bob Etheridge for Governor (NC), the Research Triangle Foundation, and Protect All NC Families. She is survived by her husband, Nation; her mother and stepfather Debra and Marion Funderburk of Orangeburg, SC; her father and stepmother Chris and Teresa Kirk of St. Helena Island, SC; brothers Brett and Justin Funderburk and sister, Ashley Jones; as well as Nation's parents, David and Pat Greer of Lenoir, NC. Her family wishes to thank the staff, nurses and surgeons at WakeMed for their professionalism, dedication and courtesy during Jamie's final hours. She is mourned by and she will be remembered by a legion of friends. Tuesday night, with just a few hours' notice, hundreds of them filled the sanctuary at the Hahns' faith home, Pullen Memorial Baptist Church in Raleigh, for a prayer vigil. Nation spoke at the service. He said: "Jamie dedicated her life to making a difference, and it is that dedication that has brought so many of us together tonight to pray for her, stand with her and express our love for her." He read from a poem by Aeschylus that Jamie loved, a poem quoted by Robert F. Kennedy on the night Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated: "Even in our sleep, pain which cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart until, in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom through the awful grace of God." The family asks that memorial contributions be made to the Hope Center at Pullen Memorial Baptist Church, 1801 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh 27605. Please earmark contributions to "Raising Hope Dinner." Arrangements by Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 300 Saint Mary's St. Raleigh, NC.