Bill Hammond

Billy Edward Hammond, or Bill as he was called by everyone but his mother, was born in Paragould, Arkansas on 4-19-1930. You have to say it just that way with numbers and pauses for the dashes because that is how he always said it. And in recent months, he’s been giving his birth date a lot. He passed away on October 18, 2023, with his girls by his side. He had been surrounded by the compassionate staff of Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital associated with Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Bill grew up on Poplar Street in Paragould. He graduated from Paragould High School in 1947, where he was always proud to say he was President of the Thespians. Although he was never actually on stage in a play, those who knew him know how he loved an audience! Bill studied Accounting and graduated from Hendrix College in 1951, joining the Naval Reserves during college. He was called to active duty on November 2, 1951, during the Korean War. He served on the USS Sierra, a destroyer tender, mostly off the coast of Norfolk, Virginia, and in the Caribbean. He was up for a promotion in rank, but he always said, “The only thing I ever wanted out of the Navy was me!” so he was honorably discharged on August 25, 1953, when his service time ended.

After briefly working for Little Rock Refrigeration and Jackson Cookie Company, Bill went to work for Scott Sash & Door Company, belonging to the family of his wife, Sally Scott Hammond. He always said his business was “wholesale building material” and as he told someone as recently as this week, his job was “to do whatever needed done.”

Bill was a volunteer fireman for the Sylvan Hills Volunteer Fire Department from 1958 to 1990. He was the Treasurer for the Sylvan Hills Community Church from 1982 to 1990 where he also served as a Deacon.

Bill loved family, baseball, and road trips, especially when they were combined. He spent years on the front row at Ray Winder Field with season tickets to the Arkansas Travelers games, enjoyed recent seasons watching Razorback baseball, and made many trips to watch major and minor league teams around the country. He loved to just get in the car and drive. The trips nearly always became an adventure. Even on a road trip to a funeral, he and his grandson visited six state capitals along the way, and after managing to get himself stranded on a bus trip to Savannah due to a health issue, his girls drove across the country to retrieve him, but the return trip included a tour of the Air Force Museum and a stop to visit the birthplace of Elvis, all after being discharged from the hospital.

He was stubborn and always wanted to do things a certain way – the way he figured was best – but he was also fun and funny to friends and strangers alike. At 93, he was still sharp and loved joking around with nearly every person he encountered. People loved him. We loved him. And we will miss him terribly. He was always so full of life. And now we can honor him by choosing to live our lives to the fullest!

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Glaucus Word “Bill” Hammond and Frances Light Hammond; wife, Sally Scott Hammond; brother, James Henry Hammond; and wife, Virginia Biggs Freeman Hammond. He is survived by two daughters, Cara Hammond Witherspoon (Brooks) of Alma, Arkansas, and Amy Hammond Landreth (Trent) of McKinney, Texas; Granddaughter, Dr. Breanne Witherspoon (Scott Gregory) of Farmington, Arkansas; grandson, Hampton Landreth of McKinney, Texas; Virginia’s daughter Dana Jernigan (Jerry); Dana’s children, Steven Guitar (Caroline), and Sara McCarter (Craig), and their children.

Services will be held at Griffin Leggett Rest Hills located at 7724 Landers Road, North Little Rock, Arkansas on Saturday, October 21, 2023. Visitation will be at 11:00 am. Funeral services will be at 12:00 pm followed by interment at 1:00 pm

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: Washington Regional Cancer Support Home, 488 East Longview Street, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72703. Phone: (479) 404-2162