Herman I. Hancock

HANCOCK, Herman I., 83, a resident of Tampa, Florida with a summer home in Arden, N.C., passed away at Mission St. Joseph Hospital Sunday, February 2, 2003 after a period of declining health. A native of Union County, Mississippi, he was the son of W.I. and Berlin Hancock of Tupelo, Miss. In addition to his parents, also preceding him in death are two brothers, W.A. Hancock of Batesville, Miss. and L.D. Hancockof Tupelo, Miss., and two sisters, Ruby Kennon of New Albany, Miss. and Claudia Dunn of Tupelo, Miss. A veteran of the U.S. Navy, he served on the USS San Juan in the Pacific Fleet during World War II, earning seven battle stars. After the war, he married on November 23, 1946, and operated retail clothing stores in Grenada, Miss. In 1959, he and his brothers started a wholesale and retail fabric company in Tupelo, Miss. that grew to over 350 retail stores over the next ten years. After selling the business in 1969, he moved to Tampa, Fla. where he speculated and developed real estate.He was a member of the Asheville Church of Christ. Survivors include his wife, Elaine B. Hancock; two sons, Garry H. Hancock and wife Joyce and Barry K. Hancock and his wife Melanie of Arden, N.C.; three grandchildren, Suzanne Farmer and her husband Paul of Hendersonville, N.C., William Hancock and Rebecca Hancock of Arden, N.C.; two great-grandchildren, Christopher and Justin Farmer; one brother, Dale Hancockand his wife Marjorie of New Albany, Miss.; three sisters, Erline Edwards of Millington, Tenn., Theressa Kilgore and her husband James of Tupelo, Miss., and Odessa Clayton and her husband Edwin of Montgomery, Ala.; two sisters-in-law, Dorothy Hancock of Paducah, Ky., and Elaine G. Hancock of Tupelo, Miss., along with several nieces and nephews. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, February6, 2003 at the Asheville Church of Christ with Minister Joe Hickman officiating. Entombment will be private at Shepherd Memorial Park. Thos. Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors (828) 693-3435