Dr. Benjamin Paul Hammack Sr.

FLORENCE -- Dr. Benjamin Paul Hammack Sr., 80, of Florence, formerly of Monroe, N.C., died Monday, May 10, 2004, at the Heritage Home in Florence. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. today in McEwen Colonial Chapel conducted by the Rev. Dr. Harry Poovey with burial following in Lakeland Memorial Park. The family received friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 11, at McEwen Funeral Home in Monroe, N.C. Dr. Hammack was born May 28, 1923, in Mayfield, Ga., son of the late Simpson Arelious Hammack and Elizabeth Shurley Hammack.

Dr. Hammack was educated in public schools in Augusta, Ga., graduated in 1944 from the Junior College in Augusta, graduated from Furman University in Greenville with a Bachelor of Arts, a major in education and a minor in history, graduated from Duke University in Durham, N.C., in 1949, Master of Education, with a major in educational administration and supervision, a minor in sociology, graduated Duke University, Durham, N.C., in 1967, Ed.D., majoring in educational administration and supervision and a minor in sociology and psychology.

Dr. Hammack began his educational career as a teacher in 1945 and as a principal in 1957. He was employed from 1971-1985 as superintendent of schools, Union County Schools, Monroe, N.C., 1969-1971 as superintendent of schools, Elizabeth City/Pasquotank County Schools, Elizabeth City, N.C., 1960-1969 superintendent of school, Weldon City schools, Weldon, N.C., 1959-1960. After Dr. Hammack's retirement, he taught for a few years at Wingate University in Wingate, N.C.

Dr. Hammack was a past member of The First Baptist Church, Monroe, N.C. and a present member, Warren Baptist Church, Augusta, Ga. He was a member of The Gideons International in Augusta, Ga.

Surviving Dr. Hammack is his second wife, Lucile Whitehead Hammack of Augusta, Ga.; a son, Ben Hammack of Florence; his daughter, Mrs. Paula Efird and husband, Howard, of Florence; two grandchildren, Andrew Efird and Nathan Efird, both of Florence; a brother, Shurley Hammack and wife, Ann, of Augusta, Ga.; and two sisters, Jacquelyn Edwards and husband, C.W. Edwards, and Mrs. Marjorie Coursey and husband, Marvin Coursey, both of Augusta, Ga. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Jimmie Ruth Alewine Hammack.

Memorials may be made to Jimmie Ruth Hammack Scholarship Fund, Pilot Club of Monroe, Attn: Delane Baucom, 416 Sikes Mill Road, Monroe, NC 28110.

McEwen Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Monroe is serving the family of Dr. Hammack.