A reminder: East Bladen girls basketball team (31-0) will play at the Crown Arena in Fayetteville at 4 p.m. today (Saturday) for the NCHSAA Girls 2A Eastern Regional Championship. Their opponent will be North Pitt (28-1). We wish the Lady Eagles the best. Can you imagine, 2 teams with a combined record of 59-1? Go Eagles.
We have lost and continue to lose good people who have made a difference in the area. I will not attempt to name them all, but among them….Bobby Lewis who was buried this week, Bruce & Wendy Cannon who will leave the area soon after doing so much good and Herb Hanna, a quiet, caring, giving man.
Today, my thoughts are with the Hanna family. Herb lived a long life (he was 91 years old/young). And, like the others mentioned, he touched so many.
The Herb I knew, came to Bladen County many years ago when he joined the Veedor-Root company. He soon was involved with EMS before the days of a paid ambulance service and in fact served for years as a volunteer with the Elizabethtown Rescue Squad. He was an active member of the Elizabethtown Presbyterian Church, he, his bride and daughter.
I became acquainted with Herb as a member of the local rescue squad. Over the years, I observed a quiet, organized, good man doing good deeds without fanfare.
Over 30 years ago, Rev. Eckie Lancaster serving as pastor of Wesley’s Chapel UMC, organized a Sunday morning prayer meeting. It was a small group, mostly men who met at 7 a.m., with no agenda just a time to think and offer up prayers for needs in the community, individuals and groups. I am not sure when Herb Hanna joined the group, maybe from the very beginning, but he (Presbyterian) and David Shaw (Baptist) were faithful in their attendance. They met every Sunday morning at Melton’s restaurant and many times, rode together to prayer meeting.
Over the past couple of months, Herb’s health began to fail at a faster pace. He could not see as well as he once did, his hearing was failing and he stopped driving. Over his last month or two at prayer meeting he came dressed in his suit and tie, said he wanted to dress just once. It was obvious he had less strength, but his faith never wavered.
He gave thanks for a good life, a good family and spoke of his need and desire to be at the alter at that time of the week.
Herb did not bid the group goodbye, did not want a formal good-bye I am sure. He called David Shaw to tell him he would not return, his health was failing and he did not want to be a burden. David offered to pick him up at his home, he declined. Typical Herb.
Herb had a wood-working shop, a place he felt at-home. Ronald and Alex Gooden, as well as others, provided him a variety of wood over the years, apparently at no cost, and he made trays for the sick, and furniture for some, he could make just about anything from wood. When a member of our Sunday morning prayer meeting group died unexpectedly, he wanted to do something to remember him by, so he built a podium for a Sunday School class.
He would donate several pieces of his work for just about any worthy fundraising effort in the community. Never a charge, but he would call and inquire what it sold for. He was proud of his work and wanted to know if there was still a demand for his products, and there was.
As his health began to fail, Herb told our small group often that he had more home-made wooden trays for the sick, free, just let him know and he would provide. The only requirement was that when the sick returned to good health, they would share the tray with someone else that may need it. Some were shared, but many folks held on to the trays, because they were so useful and Herb made them. I know where there are some, well, at least one.
He enjoyed a good relationship with the Lee and Hobby at Bladen Builders. They would go out of their way to assist Herb. He told me so. They knew he was doing good for the community.
Herb died Friday, around noontime at a Fayetteville hospital. A memorial service will be held Sunday, 3 p.m. at Elizabethtown Presbyterian Church. His family will receive friends after the service at the church.
Herb was a gentlemen, a busy, giving, loving, caring human being. A great example of what we all should be. Our thoughts are with his family and we thank them for sharing Herb.
Faith is personal, but not private.
Never believe that a few caring people can’t change the world. For, indeed, that’s all who ever have.
We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us. Joseph Campbell
robert g hester
rgh4612@gmail.com
910-876-2322
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