Professor Emmett Willard Hamrick

PROFESSOR EMMETT WILLARD HAMRICK

Professor Emmett Willard Hamrick, who was born in 1923 in Beaver Dam, NC, died peacefully in his sleep on Jan. 8, 2015, having lived 91 years and touched countless lives along the way. He is survived by his much loved wife of 71 years, Shirley, his son, Dr. Allen Hamrick O'Barr of Chapel Hill, his daughter-in-law Emily O'Barr, and two grandchildren, Chelsea (age 8)and Felix (age 5).

Professor Hamrick is especially remembered as a distinguished member of the faculty of Wake Forest University, where he taught religion and biblical archaeology 36 years from 1952 to 1988. In addition to teaching and directing students on the home campus, Dr. Hamrick led 13 archaeological investigations to biblical sites in Israel and Jordan, often in the company of Wake Forest students, and always with his family at his side. Professor and Mrs. Hamrick opened their home and their lives to their many friends, students, and colleagues over the years, regaling them with their tales of adventure, discovery, and exploration.

Dr. Hamrick, who was valedictorian of his high school class, entered college at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1940. His undergraduate studies were interrupted by service in the U.S. Air Force during World War II. He returned to UNC to complete his bachelor's degree in American history in 1947. He was also elected to membership in Phi Beta Kappa. Shortly after completing his studies at UNC, he began postgraduate studies at Duke University in both the School of Divinity and the Graduate School, specializing in Biblical studies and Christian ethics. He received his doctorate degree from Duke in 1951. Along the way, he was also ordained as a Baptist minister.
Professor Hamrick is author of many scholarly papers. He was popular on the lecture circuit speaking to both academic and lay audiences about his research.

A memorial service will be held at the Binkley Baptist Church in Chapel Hill, NC, at 10 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 12, 2015. The family requests that donations, in lieu of flowers, be made to the UNC Hospice Program or Binkley Baptist Church.