Rev. Fred G. Hammond

1927 - 2011

Rev. Fred G. Hammond, 84, of Jacksonville, passed away early Monday morning, June 6, 2011, at Barton W. Stone in Jacksonville.

He was born April 4, 1927, in Salem, Mo., the son of John Glenn and Ellen Knight Hammond. He married Helen Marie Heidenreich on Sept. 10, 1955, at the Freeburg Methodist Church in Freeburg, and she survives.

He is also survived by one daughter, Diana (husband, Alex) Pratt of Katy, Texas; one son, Eric Hammond of Jacksonville; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Fletcher Hammond, Paul Hammond and John Edward Hammond (surviving wife, Bertie of Litchfield); and one sister, Elsie Ambrose (surviving husband, Dale of Modesto).

Rev. Hammond served in the U.S. Navy during World War II in the Japan Theater and also in the Naval Reserve for six years. He graduated from McKendree College and Eden Theological Seminary. He obtained his masters degree from the Missouri School of Religion and later received his Doctorate of Theology. He served as chaplain at the Jacksonville Developmental Center for 23 years and later as a counselor for 20 years at the Wells Center in Jacksonville from which he retired in 2007. He pastored part time at many area United Methodist Churches, including Riggston-Merritt United Methodist Church, Roodhouse United Methodist Church and Manchester United Methodist Church. He had been very active in the Chaplains National Training Program and Prairie Sonshine Via de Cristo.

A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday at Williamson Funeral Home, with burial at Memorial Lawn Cemetery. Friends may call after 12 Noon on Friday at the Williamson Funeral Home, where family will meet friends from 5-7 p.m. Memorials are suggested to the Wells Center, LaMoine River District of the United Methodist Church, Children's Home Society of Missouri or the American Cancer Society. Condolences may be left online at www.airsman-hires.com.