Wanda S. Hamby

Wanda Smith Hamby, age 88, entered into the presence of her Heavenly Father and Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Friday, May 26, 2017. She was born on January 30, 1929, in Fordyce, Arkansas, to Varney Elbert and Ruth Buchanaan Smith. A Celebration of Life service will be held at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home, Shreveport, on Wednesday, May 31, at 11:00 a.m. Presiding will be ministers Guy Ben Murphrey and Mike Uzzel. Interment will immediately follow at Centuries Memorial Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, May 30, 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. Wanda grew up in Shreveport and attended Fairfield Elementary School and graduated from C.E. Byrd High School. She was an exceptional wife, mother, aunt, Mamaw, and friend. She had a huge impact on the lives of children and youth as a Sunday School teacher and youth leader at Southside Baptist Church and Summer Grove Baptist Church. She also enjoyed serving in the Ladies Auxiliary of The Gideons. Wanda was adventurous, fun loving and had a wonderful gift of hospitality. She extended love and warmth to all. Her heart and home was always open to anyone, young and old alike. Accolades include the following from two of her granddaughters:

The world is full of unsung heroines. These are the women who make a difference in someone's life but never receive the recognition that they deserve. My heroine is my grandmother, Wanda Hamby, a woman of impeccable character. In any situation and at any time, she is willing to come to the aid of those who need her. My grandmother gives of herself by ministering to inmates at Caddo Detention Center and she teaches a second grade Sunday School class at Summer Grove Baptist Church. Aside from that, she willingly works daily in the family business. Although she is a very busy woman, she always makes time for her family and friends. Whenever I have a problem, large or small, my grandmother lends me a nonjudgmental ear. Through her wise counsel, she helps me contemplate my options clearly. Even if she feels that I have made the wrong decision, she supports me. She is the most loving and caring person that I know. My grandmother is an unselfish woman who cheerfully puts others' needs ahead of her own. She is never hypocritical, and she looks for the good in people. Through her, I have seen the kind of person that I want to be, and for that, she will always be my unsung heroine. -- Amy Lalena de los Reyes (written as a high school senior, 1994)

My Mamaw, Frances LaWanda "Wanda" Hamby, was freed from her struggle with Ahlzeimer's this past Friday. She was so kind, always grateful and generous, consistently HAPPY, loving, and abounding in sass and sarcasm. She loved a full house, ice cream, and cardinals. She would laugh if you fell and would probably fall over laughing trying to help you up. She could whip anyone's butt at dominoes or cards, knew more words, definitions, and how to spell them than most people (making her the queen of Scrabble/Boggle/crossword puzzles) and she was better at math than the average man. She was a strong woman and fiercely loved her husband of nearly 66 years. They had 4 children, one of them I gratefully call Mom. With an open heart and arms, Mamaw let people know they are worth loving. She laughed often and often laughed until she cried and kept on laughing. She is joy - in life and in memory. Ahlzeimer's never took away her spirit. She was grateful and would tell you a 100 times over, "Thank you! You are so sweet!" I echo that back to you, my Mamaw! You are the legacy to aspire to! Thank you for living and loving well! - Bethany Murphrey

Wanda was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years of marriage, Frank J. Hamby, Jr.; her parents, Varney and Ruth Smith; and her sister, Peggy Stuckmeyer. Cherishing her memory are her daughter, Anne Burke, and son, Rusty Hamby, and his wife Mary, all of Shreveport; daughter, Susan Hamby, of West Monroe, LA,; daughter, Jeany, and her husband, Guy Ben Murphrey, of Tomball, Texas, and her sister, Iris Green, and her husband, Bill, of Shreveport. Adoring grandchildren are Amy de los Reyes and husband, Ivan; Dustin Lalena, Ashley McCutcheon and husband, Ty; Gage and Reed Hamby, and Joshua and Bethany Murphrey. Great grandchildren are Julianne, Zoee, Tripp, Magnolia, and Georgia along with a host of extended family. The family asks that any memorials be made to The Gideons International or a charity of choice. The family would also like to extend appreciation to all who showed love and care to our mother and grandmother. A special thanks goes to her loving caregivers, Denova Aucoin and Shirley Langley.