Leon Fay Hammond

Leon Fay Hammond

Leon Fay Hammond, 87, went home to heaven Friday, March 26, 2010, at Agape Senior Nursing and Rehab Facility.

Fay was born March 27, 1922, in Chesterfield, South Carolina, the son of Absalom Hammond and Lissie Arie White Hammond.

Fay was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 46 years, Daisy Westbury Hammond, in July 1988; two brothers, Wilbur White Hammond in December 1997, and William Jackson Hammond in January 1999; and a sister, Sara Louise Hammond Gulledge in October 2007.

Fay is survived by a sister, Emma Rae Hammond Eskridge; a son, Leon F. "Bud" Hammond Jr.; a daughter-in-law, Frances Young Hammond; two granddaughters, Lynn Hammond Patterson and her husband, Chris, and Laura Hammond Fulk; two great-grandchildren, Kai and Bella Fulk; and his very special friend, Gladys S. Timmons.

Fay graduated from Chesterfield High School and Draughon's Business College. He was a Navy veteran of World War II. Fay worked for the Chesterfield Advertiser before accepting a job with the South Carolina Highway Department as a rod-man on a survey crew. He worked his way through the Highway Department and retired after 37 years on June 30, 1979, as the Director of Purchasing. Fay was a charter member of the South Carolina State Employees Association, a member of the National Association of Purchasing Management and the Carolinas-Virginia Purchasing Management Association where he served on the Eligibility, Membership, and Attendance Committee. He was a faithful member of West Side Baptist Church, West Columbia for over 60 years where he served as a deacon, adult Sunday school teacher, church moderator, and a member of numerous committees.

Special thanks go to the West Side Church Family and friends for their visits and prayers in this most difficult time.

Fay will be remembered as a person who consistently placed others ahead of himself and practiced his faith daily. Special appreciation is extended to Agape Senior TCU and Agape Hospice for their excellent physical and spiritual care of my dad during his last days.

Family visitation will be from 6 until 8 p.m. Monday, March 29, 2010, at the Thompson Funeral Home of Lexington, 4720 Augusta Road, Lexington, SC.

A funeral service is scheduled 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 30, 2010, at the Chapel of Thompson Funeral Home of Lexington, conducted by the Reverend Clinton Lawyer of West Side Baptist Church and Dr. Lonnie Shull Jr. Pastor Emeritus of First Baptist Church, West Columbia.

Interment will follow at Southland Memorial Gardens.

Memorials may be made to West Side Baptist Church, 2100 Platt Springs Road, West Columbia, SC 29169 or to Agape Community Hospice, 805 Buff St., West Columbia, SC 29169.

Family and friends may sign online guest book at www.thompsonsfuneral.com


This obituary was originally published in the News Virginian.