William M. “Bill” Hamman, 53, died Friday, March 21, 2008.
A beloved husband, father and friend, he was warm, compssionate, vibrant and loyal to whomever came into his life.
He made a real difference in this world, one person at a time, by following his burning desire to be of service whenever and wherever the need aros.
He was a devout Christian. His faith was deep and unshakable. He had attended Faith Family Fellowship and was a member of Spanish Fort Church of Christ.
He began his life of service at a young age by serving the Foundation for the Junior Blind. He served briefly in the U.S. Air Force before marrying Teresa, the mother of his three beautiful daughters.
They were married for 24 years before her death in 1999. He drove a truck for McDonald’s where he developed his lifelong love of hamburgers and he drove a Greyhound bus and had many stories to tell of the people he met.
He volunteered with the American Red Cross for years worldwide. He proudly served as a Houston County Deputy Sheriff Reserve Officer and at the Rehobeth VFD and the Madrid VFD, rising to the rank of assistant chief.
After moving to Spanish Fort, he served that town for eight years as a volunteer firefighter earning the ran of lieutenant and was recognized in 2001 as Volunteer Fire Fighter of the Year in the State of Alabama. He was proud and yet humbled to be shosen for this award.
In 2007 he joined the Daphne Fire Department and served until his death. He loved the brotherhood and camaraderie that was given to him and was very proud to be a part of that department.
His other love was the Coast Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla 36 Easter Shore and its family. He became a vessel examiner and was working toward his boat crew qualification. The friendship and respect shown by these people were very important to him.
Survivors include his wife, Judy Hamman of Spanish Fort; three daughters, Crystalann (Larry) Hamman-Lemieux of Panama City, Fla., Marijane Ann (Nick) Salkley of Mobile and Kathleen Deann Hamman of Spanish Fort; two sisters, Judy Franklin of Dothan and Merile Hamman-Peterson of Galesburg, Ill; and three step-children, Kari Connolly of Atlanta, Michael (Sherry) Connolly of Rabun and Sharmyn (Jimmy) Wall of Theodore.
Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, March 24 at Faith Family Fellowship, 7100 Spanish Fort Blvd., Spanish Fort. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 25 at the church with honors provided by the Daphne Fire Department and Brother Rick Whittle officiating. Graveside services and interment will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 26 at Madrid Community Cemetery in Houston County.
The family requests memorial donations be made to your local fire department to benefit the men and women who daily serve their communities.
Arrangements are by Hughes Cremation & Funeral Service, Daphne. On-line condolences may be made at hughesfuneralservice.com.
