Bennie Rodgers Hamner MD

Bennie Rodgers Hamner, MD, FACS, died January 28th, 2026. He was 93. He was preceded in death by his parents, Dr. Lewis H. Hamner and Lillian Rodgers Hamner, his brother Lewis H. Hamner II (Marion Pinnell), and his wife Lorene Bryant Hamner.

He is survived by his wife Victoria Kearley Hamner and three children, Melanie Halvorson (Carl Barker), Steven Rodgers Hamner (Kay), and Bryan Scott Hamner. He also has 3 grandchildren whom he adored – Jordan and Brock Hamner and Michael Halvorson (Amanda).

Bennie grew up in Camp Hill, Alabama, and then graduated from the Alabama Polytechnic Institute. During that time, he was the leader of his 14-piece orchestra. He sang and played the trumpet.

He started his medical training in Birmingham and graduated from the Medical College of Alabama with AOA honors. He then completed his surgical residency at the Mobile General Hospital.

He was a Captain in the Army stationed at Fort Hood, Texas and was Surgeon Consultant to the General of the Invasion Task Force during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

As a fourth-generation physician, he began his almost 50-year surgical practice in Montgomery in 1964 before retiring in 2012. He was a founding member of the Montgomery Surgical Center and served as president of its Board of Directors. He was Chief of Surgery at Baptist South and Saint Margaret’s Hospitals.

He had a great love for his family, Scottie dogs, music, and Auburn football. He was quick to offer a smile and a joke, and he was well known for his dry wit.

He loved his work and his patients; and he was a good and caring surgeon. He very much appreciated his staff, nurses, and everyone with whom he worked.

One of his many medical talks ended with the following – his mantra; “One is never too old or intelligent to learn new ideas. Complacency is never an attribute to be proud of. Without the desire to improve ourselves and keep instep with what is going on around us and not be interested in new and better values, the world will pass us by.”

Visitation will be at Alabama Heritage Funeral Home on Sunday, February 1st at 1:30 PM with graveside service afterwards.

Honorary Pallbearers will be members of the Montgomery Surgical Society. Pallbearers will be Michael Halvorson, Brock Hamner, Les Kearley, Will Kearley, Marty Adams, Jeff Driggers, and Wesley Osborne.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alabama Kidney Foundation or to Auburn University.