Joe Henry Hamner, Jr.

Joe Henry Hamner, Jr., 67, of Washington D.C., passed away Monday, August 31, 2009, following a brief illness. A native of Sylacauga, Alabama, he was the son of Maureen Kuykendall Hamner of Phoenix, Arizona and the late Joe Henry Hamner, Sr. Mr. Hamner earned a degree in Political Science from the University of Geneva, Switzerland. He earned a Juris Doctor of Law degree from the Tulane Law School in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he practiced law for sixteen years. While living in Boone, NC, he earned an M.B.A. from Appalachian State University. He was employed most recently as an accountant with the National Academy of Education in Washington D.C. Surviving in addition to his mother are his former wife, Reni N. Hamner of Asheville; sons Joe H. Hamner III of Atlanta, GA, Derek H. Hamner of Washington, DC, and Ryan O. Hamner and wife, Courtney, and granddaughters Anna and Elise, all of Asheville; sisters, Susan H. Englund of Chattanooga, TN and Ann M. Hamner of Phoenix, AZ. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, September 12, at Lewis Memorial Park, 415 Beaverdam Road, Asheville, with the Rev. J. Layton Mauze', III, of the First Presbyterian Church. A memorial service will be held in Washington, DC, at a later date. In honor of Joe's active involvement in, and commitment to his church's music program, a dedicated fund has been established in his name. Memorial contributions may be made to the music program at All Souls Church, Unitarian, 2835 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009. Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue is assisting with the arrangements.