James McDonald Hamby

Mr. James McDonald Hamby, 93, of Valdese, passed away on Tuesday, February 26, 2019 at Burke Hospice & Palliative Care, following a period of declining health. James was born on March 13, 1925 in Caldwell County to the late Charlie Hamby and Jennie Webster Hamby. He was a retired electrician and a longtime member of Drexel First Baptist Church. James was also a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving during WW II. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Regina Hamby, two brothers, Charles and Wallace Hamby, and four sisters, Gaye Hamby, Wayburn Winkler, Paula Shew, and Peggy Jackson. Survivors include his four children, Mike Hamby and wife Linda of Claremont, Dan Hamby and wife Phyllis of Valdese, Debra Williams and husband Claude of Asheville, Robin Hyde and husband Rick of Rutherford College and one sister, Betty Holder of Lenoir. Also surviving are six grandchildren; Dawn Donnahue, Josh Williams, James Hamby, Heather Harris, Tres Hyde and Ryan Hyde, and is great-grandchildren; Daisy Donnahue, Lily Garland, Ashley Donnahue, Jackson Hamby, Senora Hamby and James Hyde. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, March 3, 2019 at 3:00 P.M. at Drexel First Baptist Church with Rev. Michael Duncan and Rev. Paul Deal officiating. The family will also receive friends from 2:00 until 3:00 P.M. at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Burke Hospice & Palliative Care, 1721 Enon Rd., Valdese, NC 28690. The family would also like to extend a special thank you to the staffs at Frye Regional Medical Center, Burke Hospice & Palliative Care, and the home health nurses, who provided the excellent care for Mr. Hamby in the previous months. An online guestbook and obituary is available at www.heritagefuneralservices.com Heritage Funeral Service & Crematory of Valdese is serving the Hamby family.