Audley Galbraith Hamrick

Audley Galbraith Hamrick was born on December 16, 1929 in Boiling Springs, North Carolina. He died on December 25, 2016 in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. He attended Boiling Springs School and graduated with degrees from Gardner Webb College, Carson Newman College and New Orleans Baptist Seminary. He served as a missionary for the Home Mission Board (North American Mission Board) of the Southern Baptist Convention for over 32 years in New Mexico. His love for Christ and his love for people drew him and his wife Della Jo to serve various Native American tribes including the Navajo at Alamo, Zuni Pueblo, the Jicarilla Apache at Dulce, Laguna and Acoma Pueblos, various tribes in Albuquerque, and the Navajo again in Gallup. Audley’s heart passion was to share the saving Gospel of Christ to our lost and hurting world. He encouraged reading God’s word and singing worship music in the Navajo language, and he translated some hymns and scripture into the Keresan language spoken in Laguna and Acoma. Between his times at Dulce and at Laguna-Acoma, he also served as pastor of the Camp’s Creek Baptist Church near Boiling Springs. After his retirement, he lived in Knoxville, Tennessee, where he served as a deacon in the Sevier Heights Baptist Church for many years. His never-ceasing care and compassion were evident in the multitude of ways he served during his time as missionary and in retirement. Audley is preceded in death by his parents, Oliver Paul and Jessie Pangle Hamrick, and his two brothers, Paul Hamrick, Jr. and Maxwell Hamrick and one sister, Teresa Ann Hamrick. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Della Jo Galyon Hamrick, and his five children and their spouses, Mark Stephen Hamrick (Robin Grammer) Cynthia Hamrick Leavelle (Tommy) Daniel Richard Hamrick (Ruthanne Briggs) Beth Hamrick Swan (Joel) and Katrina Hamrick Eash (Chris). He also leaves nine grandchildren, Sarah Hamrick Glenn (John), Christy Blankenship; Richard, Robert, and Stephen Leavelle; Jonathan, Paul, and Anna Rose Hamrick; James Swan, and Evangeline Eash. He has one great-grandson, Liam Glenn. He also leaves behind a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins. Funeral Services will be held at Berry Funeral Home, 3704 Chapman Highway 11 am Saturday, December 31, 2016 with Dr. Hollie Miller officiating. Interment will follow at Zion Hill Baptist Church Cemetery, Sevier County. The family will receive friends 4-8 pm Friday, December 30, 2016 at Berry Funeral Home. www.berryfuneralhome.com.