Charles Edward Hamner Jr.

Charles Edward Hamner, Jr., age 90, passed away on July 4, 2025. Born on March 26, 1935, at the Alberene Stone Corp. hospital in Schuyler, Virginia, he was the son of Mattie May Butler Hamner and Charles E. Hamner, Sr., and was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Joseph E. Brochu, and his sister Edna May Simpson.

Charles grew up on a working farm, helping to raise crops, cattle, and hogs, using horses and mules to pull plows and equipment. At age 10, his family opened a country grocery store, where he spent his high school years balancing work with athletics — especially baseball. As a member of the Scottsville All-Stars, he even played against the legendary Willie Mays.

After graduating from Scottsville High School, Charles earned a full scholarship to Virginia Tech, receiving a BS degree while also serving in the Corps of Cadets. He was honorably discharged as a First Lieutenant from the U.S. Army Reserve in 1964. His academic journey continued at the University of Georgia, where he earned a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, a Master’s in Chemistry, and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry. He was licensed to practice veterinary medicine and surgery in Virginia and Georgia.

Charles’s professional career was as impressive as it was diverse. For 24 years, he served on the faculty at the University of Virginia Medical School, with joint appointments in Surgery, Obstetrics & Gynecology, and Biology. He was also Associate Vice President for Medical Affairs and oversaw the construction of the new hospital. While at UVA, he helped pioneer the technique of in vitro fertilization in cats. He later worked in pharmaceutical R&D for several companies, including serving as Director of Research Program Project Management at A.H. Robins. Over the years, Dr. Hamner authored more than 50 scientific publications, co-authored chapters in 12 books on reproductive physiology and biochemistry, and edited two editions of Drug Development.

In 1988, Charles moved to North Carolina to become President and CEO of the N.C. Biotechnology Center, serving for 15 years. He also was Research Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in Chapel Hill. During his tenure at the Biotech Center, he helped recruit 42 world-class scientists and supported the creation of 52 biotechnology companies in North Carolina. Later, he served as Chairman of the Board of the Hamner Institutes for Health Sciences in the Research Triangle Park for five years. In his later years, Dr. Hamner enjoyed consulting with Franklin Street Partners in Chapel Hill, O’Brien Atkins Associates, Biogen, and start-up biotech companies including KBI Biopharma, Spinner, K Sep Holdings, and NCBIO. From 2017 to 2020, he was a senior consultant to the UNC-CH School of Medicine/Eshelman School of Pharmacy on a rare disease study initiative. Wherever he worked, Charles was known for his warm smile, engaging stories, and his memorable pearls of wisdom. He was also noted for his strong work ethic throughout his life.

While in graduate school at the University of Georgia, Charles married the love of his life, Sharon Kay Boone. Together they shared 64 years of marriage and raised two children: E. Diana Inman (Randy) of Chapel Hill, NC, and Clifton C. Hamner (Giovana Mantovani) of Roxboro, NC. He was also a proud grandfather to Anne Marie Hamner (Jack McAndrews) of Pinehurst, NC, Kellie Hamner (Patrick Irving) of Chapel Hill, NC, and Reed Inman of San Francisco; and great-grandfather to Riley McAndrews. Charles was a member of the Episcopal Church and later the Methodist Church, loved life, and was happiest working in his yard and garden.

Throughout his distinguished career, Charles was recognized with membership in numerous professional and academic honor societies, including Omicron Delta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Zeta, Alpha Zeta, Gamma Sigma Epsilon, Phi Sigma, and Sigma Xi, from which he received the Sigma Xi Award for Outstanding Research and PhD Thesis in 1964. His many honors included three honorary doctorates from Elizabeth City State University (2001), N.C. State University (2001), and the University of Ulster in Northern Ireland (1999). Other notable awards include the Archie K. Davis Award for Development of Research Triangle Park (2001), North Carolina Order of the Long Leaf Pine (2002), Healthcare Lifetime Achievement Award (2010), North Carolina Award for Public Service (2011), University of Georgia Distinguished Graduate Award (2012), WRAL TechWire NC Hall of Fame (2017), RTP Rotary Club World Changers Award (2018), and the High Flyer Champion of Innovation Award (2024), among others.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Camp Albemarle (c/o Greg Harris, 307 West Rio Rd., Charlottesville, VA 22901, or online at https://campalbemarleva.org/). Charles attended Camp Albemarle as a young boy, learned to swim there, and remained a devoted supporter throughout his life; in 2016, The Lodge at Camp Albemarle was named in his honor.

A graveside service will be held at Monticello Memory Gardens at 670 Thomas Jefferson Pkwy. in Charlottesville, Virginia, on Friday, July 11, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. Dress is casual because we will be outdoors for the graveside service. A memorial service will follow in Chapel Hill, NC, at Christ United Methodist Church at 800 Market Street in Southern Village on Saturday, July 19, 2025, at 11:00 a.m., with a reception afterward at the church.

Charles Edward Hamner, Jr. will be remembered as a scientist, mentor, innovator, and above all, a loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend whose warmth and wisdom touched countless lives.