Lee Bell Hammond, Jr.

June 10, 1946 - December 28, 2024

Lee Bell Hammond, Jr., 78, of Bells, Texas passed away on December 28, 2024. He was born to Lee Bell Hammond, Sr. and Frances (Brooks) Hammond on June 10, 1946 in Greenville, MS. The oldest son of two boys, Lee grew up loving to play cowboys, baseball, golf and driving hot rods. In high school, he worked as a flagman for the ⅛ mile and ¼ mile drag strip and also for his father's and grandfather's businesses. He learned the value of hard honest work and commitment to doing things right from his granddaddy Brooks.

Lee graduated from Greenville High School in 1965 but was very close friends with many in the '64 class. He attended Mississippi State University for one year then after a short time at Morehead Jr. College, he transferred to Delta State University where he graduated with a B.S. in Business Administration in 1969. It was at Delta State that he met the love of his life, Angie, whom he married on January 31, 1970. After graduation, he was hired by Dr. Eustace Winn in Greenville working in river transportation at Security Barge Line. A few years later, he went to work for Russell Flowers with Flowers Transportation, also in river transportation. In 1982, as a result of river businesses drying up, he decided to change careers and move to Dallas, Texas. He was hired by Marty and Maurice Rutchik as a salesman at Standard Fruit & Vegetable Company. By August of 1983, he had moved his family to Duncanville, Texas. Lee worked for Standard Fruit & Vegetable for 33+ years until he retired in September 2015.

Lee and Angie have three sons, Trey, Miller and Walt. After the birth of their first born both Lee and Angie surrendered their lives fully to Jesus Christ in 1977. They were committed to raising their children in a Christian home learning to follow Jesus with their whole heart. They attended First United Methodist Church in Greenville. Once in Texas, they attended Tyler Street United Methodist Church, teaching Sunday School and serving on the youth ministry board. In 1990 they began attending First Church of God, Dallas. They served as Sunday School teachers for 25 years, as well as in the youth ministry for 10 years. Lee also served on the grounds and facilities team.

During the early years of family life, Lee enjoyed taking his children to Texas Ranger games. With season tickets usually available through Standard Fruit & Vegetable. They would attend multiple games a year sitting 10 rows up from 3rd base. (Yes, there were many foul balls caught and even given by professional players - one being George Brett!) He also loved taking the boys to Dallas Mavericks games. Sports were a big part of Lee's leisure time. If he wasn't watching a professional game, he was watching his boys play soccer, basketball, baseball, tennis, rodeoing, running track and even bowling. He also taught them to water ski and took them on several snow skiing trips over the years. If you did not know,  Lee was an above average water skier. He was known to trick ski, slalom, barefoot and one day decided to ski using a paddle oar. That absolutely floored his sons. Lee grew up skiing on Lake Ferguson in Greenville, MS. He was known to have made his own ski with large enough fins that he could lean back and grab so much water that the boat would almost come to a stop. Lee prided himself on passing down to his children all that he had learned.

Another major joy Lee had was cooking for others. Whether three course meals, an incredible dessert like banana pudding, or a simple morning breakfast of eggs, bacon, and what his family considered his "World Famous" pancakes, he loved hosting and serving others with the food he had prepared. Presentation was just as important as the way his food tasted. He plated food with precision. Things great and small always had their place and food was one way that Lee could express his love of serving others and his gift of hospitality.

In 1989, after Angie became the director of the Crisis Pregnancy Center of Southwest Dallas, Lee became a major supporter of all things Angie needed for the ministry, especially as it expanded to become Living Choice Ministries in Duncanville, TX. He could be found running electrical wire, fixing drywall, pulling up carpet, painting, donating cars, raising funds, attending banquets, and bragging about all the things Angie was doing. He always had his hands involved in serving. He was a very generous man who gave his time, his gifts and his finances.

In giving his time to serve, Lee had a couple of other ministries that were close to his heart. Fish Creek Boys Ranch in Gainesville, Texas, under the direction of Robert & Linda Hickman and Straight Arrow Camp in Pottsboro, Texas, under the direction of Doug & Jan Branch. He not only served on the board at the Fish Creek but also helped construct Cowboy Cabin and the Main Bunk House. At Straight Arrow Camp, he served on the board and also as a camp counselor during Trey, Miller, and Walt's camping years, as well as, most of his grandkids' years and many of his nephews, great nieces and great nephews who have attended the camp. Straight Arrow was a place of refuge and joy for Lee. You could say Lee gave his blood, sweat and tears to the camp for over 38 years.

What can you say about Lee Hammond? He left this world too soon. He was everything to us and more. There aren't enough words. He was dad, papa, a husband, a friend, a brother-n-law, an uncle, a cousin and most of all a brother in Christ. He was the leader of the family, the patriarch. He led in many things, certainly the value of family, hard work and a commitment to follow Jesus Christ. Lee may have only stood at 5'8" but his demeanor and stature was 10 feet tall. He was always there! You could count on him for advice, counsel, or a word of wisdom. Lee will be missed greatly.

Lee was preceded in death by: His parents Lee Bell, Sr. and Frances (Brooks) Hammond and younger brother David Brooks Hammond.

Lee is survived by: his wife Angie (Schultz) Hammond of 54 years 11 months, sons Trey Hammond (Tressa) of Odessa, TX, Miller Hammond (Becky) of Bells, TX, Walt Hammond (Brittany) of Bryan, TX. Sister-in-law Karen Mosby (Bill) of Canton, MS and Brother-in-law David Schutlz (MaryJane) of Lucedale, MS. Ten grandchildren Logan, Carson, Teryn, Teagan, Tayden, Madi, Olivia, Tate, Deacon & Sloan along with a host of cousins, nieces and nephews.

This is not goodbye; it's see you later. We will continue your legacy here until we meet again. We proclaim these truths that ring true for Lee this day - "to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord."

"Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: "Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Please visit this link for the Memorial Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiURnqG_-v0

As much as Lee loved Straight Arrow Camp, we would ask that in lieu of flowers you donate to Straight Arrow Camp. Donations can be made at:

https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=NWFS4TP9F2XTG

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, from 10:00 A.M. to 11:15 A.M. with a Funeral Service at 11:15 A.M. at Kings Trail Cowboy Church, 498 Bethel Cannon Road, Whitewright, Texas. Burial will follow at Vittitoe cemetery in Grayson County.