Rev. James Mercer Hancock, 95
Rev. James Mercer Hancock, 95, of Greenville, South Carolina, formerly of Barney, Georgia, went to be with his Savior on January 21, 2020. The funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, January 25, 2020 at Lakeview Baptist Church in Lenox, Georgia. A committal service will follow at the Lenox Cemetery in Lenox. Visitation will take place from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, January 24, 2020, at Boone Funeral Home (South), 1804 S. Hutchinson Ave. in Adel, Georgia.
James was born near Lenox, Georgia on December 21, 1924, to the late Simmie Griffin Hancock and Ruth Allen Hancock. When he was nine years old, James placed his faith in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior and was baptized in Brushy Creek near the Brushy Creek Baptist Church where the family attended. James married Carrie Lou Godwin of Lenox on November 19, 1950.
Mr. Hancock served honorably in the U.S. Army Artillery and the U.S. Air Force during WWII and the Korean War working in electronics, nuclear special weapons and retired as a Chief Warrant Officer for the Air Force. After military retirement he and his family returned to Georgia and bought a farm in Brooks County. He soon turned to ministry and became ordained at Lakeview Baptist Church in 1964. He faithfully pastored several churches in South Georgia over the next forty-plus years and could be heard on the radio through several broadcasts and ministerial programs.
James leaves behind his wife of 69 years, Carrie Lou Hancock; four children and their spouses: Virginia Mae Arnold (Bruce) in Greenville, SC; Rose Mary Kelly (Dick) in Greenville, SC; Paul Braston Hancock (Donna) in Birmingham AL; and David James Hancock (Dawn) in Humboldt, IA. James also leaves twelve grandchildren and 34 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by one sister, Mary Beadie (Hancock) Joiner of Adel, GA; one sister-in-law, Repsie Rose (Godwin) James of Lenox, GA and many nieces and nephews. James was preceded in death by his parents, Ruth and Sim Hancock; his four brothers: Robert Jay Hancock, S.G. Hancock, Bill Hancock and Charles Hancock.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to:
Gospel Fellowship Association (gfamissions.org/give/) 1809 Wade Hampton Blvd. Suite 110 Greenville SC 29609; Evangelical Mission to the Unreached (emuinternational.org/donate/) 209 Roberts Road Taylors, SC 29687; or to WGIB Radio (gleniris.net/wgib) 1137 10th Place South Birmingham, AL 35205.
Condolences may be expressed to the Hancock family online at www.boonefunerals.com. Boone Funeral Home of Adel has been entrusted with all arrangements.