James Hamrick

James Lehman Hamrick, 89, died May 23, 2013 at his home in Raleigh, North Carolina. Mr. Hamrick was a long-time resident of Greenville and Spartanburg, South Carolina, before moving to Raleigh in January 2012. Mr. Hamrick was born in Shelby, North Carolina, on January 12, 1924, to the late Marks Quinn and Etta Price Hamrick. He attended Shelby High School where he was president of his senior class and a member of the debating team. He played American Legion baseball and was an accomplished left-handed pitcher and batter. Mr. Hamrick enrolled in Mars Hill College in the fall of 1942. He then was called to serve in World War II, entering the Army in March 1943. He saw extensive action in Europe, going ashore in France after D-Day and fighting in the Battle of the Bulge. When Mr. Hamrick returned to the States, he entered Furman University in Greenville from which he graduated magna cum laude in 1950 with a bachelor's degree in Mathematics and Physics. He was Vice President of the student body, President of Chi Beta Phi, President of the International Relations Club, member of Blue Key, Vice President of the Quaternion Club, member of the Hand and Torch Honor Society, and voted "Most Versatile". Mr. Hamrick then attended Duke University on a Rockefeller Scholarship, receiving his master's degree in political science in 1952. Also in 1952, Mr. Hamrick married his college sweetheart, the late Peggy Cater Hamrick; they remained married and deeply in love for 50 years until Mrs. Hamrick's death in 2002. Mr. Hamrick went to work for Deering Milliken, now Milliken and Company, where he stayed until he retired as Vice President of Corporate Financial Planning in 1993. He immediately executed a consulting agreement with the company and continued working with Milliken until he retired for a second time in 2011 at age 87 after serving for 9 years as the Executive Director of the Milliken Foundation. In addition, Mr. Hamrick worked for many years with the late Roger Milliken as a consultant to the Greenville Spartanburg International Airport Commission. Mr. Hamrick was very active in the communities of Greenville and Spartanburg. He served for almost 30 years on the Board of Trustees of Furman, including two terms as Board Chairman. In 1996, Mr. Hamrick was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University for his achievements and service. He also was in the first class of inductees into the Political Science Department's Hall of Fame. Mr. Hamrick was a founding member of the Richard Furman Society, and he and Mrs. Hamrick endowed scholarships for students majoring in music and political science. He was an enthusiastic member of the Paladin Club and attended sporting events for many years. In addition to his activities at Furman, Mr. Hamrick was on the Boards of Directors of the Charles Lea Center and the Spartanburg Regional Hospital Foundation, and was a member of the regional Board of Directors of First Federal of South Carolina. Mr. Hamrick is survived by his daughter, Mary Cater Hamrick, and her husband, the Reverend Doctor Robert Randy Hall, of Raleigh; granddaughters Anna Caroline Boyer of Charlotte and Maria Kathleen Boyer of Portland, Oregon; step grandsons Benjamin Russell Hall, wife Laura and daughter Kaitlyn of Pfafftown, North Carolina, and Jonathan Daniel Hall, wife Koren Garrity Hall and daughters Delilah and Kiara Carr-Garrity of Morrisville, North Carolina; sisters-in-law Frances Cater Greever and husband Jack of Coppell, Texas, Lynn Cater Thomas and husband Robert of Missouri, and Mayme Cater Hunt of Vero Beach, Florida; and many nephews and nieces and their children. He also had a close friendship with his son-in-law's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hall of Anderson, South Carolina. Mr. Hamrick was a kind and generous man, always gracious and appreciative of even the smallest gesture. He was devoted to his family and friends and remained a loving presence to them throughout his life. Mr. Hamrick conducted all of his professional activities with integrity and honor. He kept his sense of humor and dignity with him until the end. He will be sorely missed. Mr. Hamrick's family expresses its profound gratitude to the staff at Brighton Gardens in Raleigh, especially the care managers in the Reminiscence Neighborhood, for their never-ending compassion and attention to Mr. Hamrick, and their loving support of his family; and to the staff of Hospice of Wake County who were there for him during the last two months of his life. We also appreciate all the love and care shown to the family by Mr. Hamrick's friends, neighbors, and business associates in South Carolina, and the ongoing support of our many friends in Raleigh. A memorial service in celebration of Mr. Hamrick's life will be held on Saturday, May 25, at 10:30 AM at Floyd's Greenlawn Chapel, 2075 E. Main St., Spartanburg, SC 29307, following a private burial. Officiating at the service will be the Reverend J. Edward Morris and the Reverend Doctor Clay H. Turner. The family looks forward to visiting with friends after the service. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to a charity of your choice. Floyd's Greenlawn Chapel To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of James Lehman Hamrick please visit our Sympathy Store.