Dr. Hanley Erwin Hasseltine

Dr. Hanley Erwin Hasseltine, 62, of Ridgeland, MS, died at Tulane Medical Center in New Orleans, LA, on October 16th following a courageous confrontation with liver disease. An admired and respected surgeon in Jackson since 1978, Dr. Hasseltine was the third generation of his family to practice medicine. "Hanley not only had the hands of a great surgeon, he had the heart of a great man," said one of his former patients.

Dr. Hasseltine was born in Corinth, MS, in 1948 to Dr. Lee Hasseltine, Sr. and Dorothy Hanley Hasseltine. He was educated in Corinth public schools and graduated from Corinth High School in 1966. He graduated from the University of Mississippi in 1970 and was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity. His next way station on life's journey was the University of Mississippi Medical Center from which he graduated in 1974. He completed his internship and residency in otolaryngology at UMMC in 1978 and that same year went into a solo practice which continued until his death. During his more than three decades as a physician and surgeon, he practiced at St. Dominic-Jackson Memorial Hospital, MS Baptist Health System, Surgicare of Jackson, and River Oaks Hospital. He served in administrative leadership positions in addition to his work with patients.

As one might expect of a skilled surgeon, he enjoyed working with his hands, especially woodworking. An enthusiastic sailor, Dr. Hasseltine was a longtime member of the Jackson Yacht Club. On the spiritual front, he was a member of St. Matthew's United Methodist Church and harbored a genuine spirit of unselfish service. Nowhere was Dr. Hasseltine's devotion to service more apparent than in his work with the Boy Scouts of America. An Eagle Scout in his youth, he continued to work in Scouting throughout his life, even as Scoutmaster of the Mississippi troop that went to the World Jamboree in Australia in 1988. The Andrew Jackson Council of the BSA named Dr. Hasseltine a recipient of its Silver Beaver Award, which recognizes lifetime distinguished service to community and to Scouting.

Dr. Hasseltine is survived by his wife, Ellen Pendergrass Hasseltine; a daughter, Suzanne H. Eskrigge (John) of Jackson, MS, and a son, Hanley E. Hasseltine Jr. (Cam) of Germantown, TN. He is additionally survived by four grandchildren: Worth and Grace Ann Eskrigge and Hayes and Hastings Hasseltine. He was preceded in death by his older brother, Dr. Lee L. Hasseltine Jr.

There will be a graveside service in Corinth, MS, at Henry Cemetery on Thursday, the 21st of October at 2:00 p.m. and a memorial service in Madison, MS, at St. Matthew's UMC on Saturday, the 23rd of October at 11:00 a.m. Visitation at the church will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Andrew Jackson Council of the Boy Scouts of America located at 855 Riverside Drive, Jackson, MS 39202, or to St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church located at 7427 Old Canton Road, Madison, MS 39110.

A life has ended, but the end is also the beginning. Fare thee well, kind doctor.

Arrangements under the direction of McPeters Funeral Directors, Corinth, MS.