Ruby E. Hamm

Ruby Eleanor White Hamm

Sunrise on January 28, 1936 – Sunset on May 15, 2019

“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.” Psalm 100:1-5

On May 15, 2018, our precious mother, Ruby Eleanor White Hamm, 83, of Laurinburg, NC, and Baltimore, Maryland, went home to our Lord’s loving embrace. Eleanor lived in true demonstration of God’s love as a woman devoted to family, church, and community.

In her own words: Daughter of the late James Carlton White and Emily McNair White, Eleanor was born on January 28, 1936. Eleanor accepted Jesus Christ into her heart as her personal Savior at a very early age was baptized and became a member of Cool Spring United Methodist Church, Scotland County, NC.

Eleanor received her early years of education in the Scotland County, NC and New York City Public Schools. Upon graduating from Upchurch High School in Raeford, NC, she attended Fayetteville State College for a brief period, then moved to Baltimore and continued her education at Cortez Peters Business College, graduating with honors in secretarial and stenographic studies. Prior to her graduation in June 1956, she accepted employment as a secretary with the Department of Education, Baltimore City Public Schools, where she enjoyed a long career serving for 45 years.

On January 4, 1957, she was united in marriage to Charles O. Hamm of Baltimore, and two beautiful daughters were born to this union.

Eleanor firmly believed that the love of God through His Son Jesus Christ, family, and close friends were the most important ingredients in her life. She tried to demonstrate this belief and love in her daily life and in the churches where she worshipped through her numerous services. She loved to sing and praise God through this precious gift that He gave her.

Eleanor was the only child of Emily and James but was raised in her early years in the same household with four loving cousins: Fred, Bobby, Charlie, and Gene, whom she loved dearly and adopted as her brothers. She often said how blessed she was to have been raised from six months of age by a loving father, grandparents, aunts, and uncles in a Christian home after losing both parents to death at a very young age (mother 18, father, 30).

She enjoyed her blessings and faithfully tried to obey the teachings of Christ and apply them to her life. She strongly believed in the scripture, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13.

We, daughters Barbara (husband Maxie) and Jacqueline, granddaughter Tiffany, and great-granddaughter Patience, along with a host of loving cousins, will be forever grateful for her sweet, playful spirit and unceasing love. Her beloved, Charles Hamm, husband of 59 years, departed this life on January 13, 2016. We can hear her now, laughing at his jokes, shaking her head and clicking her tongue in joyous exasperation exclaiming “Chaulee!!” We rest in knowing her delight in being reunited with her dearly-loved “Chaus”, parents Emily and James White, best friend Shirley Moody, and many loved ones gone before. Dear to her heart, Eleanor also leaves to cherish her memory “sister-cousin” Gloria Jones of Aberdeen NC; “brother” Julius “Bobby” McNair, of Lawton, OK;  devoted friends Frances Johnson and Della Oliver of Baltimore, MD and Gloria Johnston of Lawrenceville, VA; and dear and cherished cousins, family and friends too numerous to name, but deeply loved and appreciated.

Friends can visit with the family at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, May 22, 2019, at Cool Spring United Methodist Church in Laurinburg, NC followed by a Celebration of Life Service at 11:30 AM. Services are provided by Purcell Funeral Home, 301 N. King St, Laurinburg, NC. Wear a splash of white, if you have it – she’d like that. Flowers are nice, but mostly, she’d be happy if you’d be kind to someone in her name.

Mama, Grandma, Gigi, we love you and will hold you in our hearts forever. Until we meet again, joyfully, on the other side.

Jackie, Barbara, Tiffany, and Patience

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ruby E. Hamm, please visit our floral store.