Ronald Hammond Obituary

Ronald Hammond Kingstree, SC - Ronald Kenneth Hammond, 77, passed away at his home May 22, 2016, with his family by his side. Mr. Hammond was born November 27, 1938 in Nichols, SC, a son of the late Hicks and Sadie Rodgers Hammond. He was a graduate of Floyds High School and University of Florida- Lake City with a degree in forestry. He worked with Westvaco and Canal Wood in Kingstree until he established his own business, Kingstree Forest Products, in 1978. Ronald was an active member of Kingstree First Baptist Church, where he served on the building committee for the Family Life Center. He was a member of Kingstree Masonic Lodge # 46 AFM, a Shriner, a former member of the Kingstree Lions Club, and also served on other boards and commissions, including 20 years on the Palmetto Timber Fund Board. His stewardship and long association with the land was recognized when he was awarded the Williamsburg County Agriculturist of the Year in 2015. His hobbies included stock car racing, flying his Piper Arrow airplane, motorcycle touring, golf, and working on his farm, Wayside. Mr. Hammond is survived by: his loving wife of 58 years, Elizabeth Ann Buffkin Hammond; two daughters, Valerie Denise Hammond of Wilmington, NC and Ronda Hammond (Mark) Ard of Sumter; seven grandchildren, Kenneth Scott Lazzari of Carthage, NC, John Phillip Lazzari of Wilminton, NC, Steven Lewis McKenzie and Ronald Harrison McKenzie, both of Columbia, James Hammond McKenzie, Ansley Ard and Walker Ard, all of Sumter; his beloved sister, Carolyn Luna Gray of Moncks Corner; sister-in-law, Faye Buffkin (Eddie) Grainger of Tabor City, NC; and numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be 11 A.M. Tuesday in the Kingstree First Baptist Church, with burial at 3 P.M. in Spring Branch Baptist Church Cemetery in Nichols, SC. Friends and family are invited to his visitation Monday from 6 to 8 P.M. at Williamsburg Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to Kingstree First Baptist Church, 400 N. Academy St., Kingstree, SC 29556, or Spring Branch Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, 6710 Church Loop, Nichols, SC 29581. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.WilliamsburgFuneralHome.com. Visit our guestbook at www.legacy.com/obituaries/ charleston