Carey Willis Hammond

Carey Willis Hammond, age 91, of Maple Grove, Minnesota and a resident of Valdosta, Georgia until she and her husband moved to Minnesota four years ago to be near their family, died in Valdosta on March 10, 2006. Mrs. Hammond is the former Mary Carey Willis, and her deceased parents were Carey Curry Willis and May Covington of Columbus, Georgia.

Mrs. Hammond was born in Midland, Georgia, near Columbus, and joined Midland’s Bethel Baptist Church at the age of 11. Her great grandfather, Cary Curry Willis, was among that church’s first members when it was founded in 1825 and served as its pastor for 54 years, from 1840 to 1894. The 180th anniversary of the founding of Bethel Baptist Church was held this past July 2005. Mrs. Hammond and a large number of the family took part in the celebration. The anniversary celebration sermon was preached by Rev. Mac Hammond, Mrs. Hammond’s son and the great, great grandson of Rev. Cary Curry Willis, the church’s most illustrious pastor. It was a proud and historic moment in Mrs. Hammond’s life. Mrs. Hammond was a graduate of Georgia State College for Women at Milledgeville, Georgia in the class of 1936.
Mr. and Mrs. Hammond were residents of Valdosta for 22 years prior to their move to Minnesota in 2001. They were spending the winter in Valdosta when she became ill six weeks ago. Mrs. Hammond was an active, long-time member of Holly Garden Club, a National Flower Show Judge, an avid duplicate bridge player and one of Valdosta’s first Life Masters. She loved duplicate bridge and her many bridge friends. Above all, she loved Christ Episcopal Church here in Valdosta and her son’s church, Living Word Christian Center in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota.

She is survived by her husband of 66 years, James H. (Jim) Hammond, of Maple Grove, MN; her son, Rev. James McBryde (Mac) Hammond and her daughter-in-law, Lynne Graves Hammond; three grandchildren, James McBryde Hammond, Jr. and wife Kristin, John Graves Hammond and wife Beckey, LucyHart Hammond Minton and husband Michael; six great grandchildren, James M. Hammond III, Hayden Hammond, Jessey Hammond, Elayna Hammond, Lane Minton and Caroline Minton (son, grandchildren and great grandchildren all residing in Greater Minneapolis); one brother, J. Edward Willis and wife Jane of Valdosta; one sister, Linda Anne Willis Aldridge and husband Charles of St. Petersburg, FL; two nieces, Katherine Willis Hunnewell of Vicenza, Italy and Carey Ann Willis Kirkland of Jackson, TN; four nephews, Dr. Alfred E. Willis of Hampton, VA, Errol Van Stralen of Bakersfield, CA, Dr. David Van Stralen of Redlands, CA. and Cary Van Stralen of St. Petersburg, FL.

Visitation will be from six to eight Monday evening, March 13, at the Carson McLane Funeral Home, where funeral services will also be held at 11 o’clock Tuesday morning, March 14, 2006. Burial will follow at Riverview Memorial Gardens. The world is a happier place for those who knew Carey Hammond.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Christ Episcopal Church, 1521 N Patterson St, Valdosta, GA, 31602 or Living Word Christian Center, 9201 75th Avenue North, Brooklyn Park, MN 55428, or to the charity of your choice. Condolences to the family maybe conveyed on the Obituary page at www.mclanefuneralservices.com. Carson McLane Funeral Home.


Funeral Home:
Carson McLane Funeral Home
2215 North Patterson Street
Valdosta, GA
US 31602