- Date Of Birth: March 7, 1920
- Date Of Death: August 23, 2017
- State: Georgia
Harold (Crip) Smith Hammond, age 97, died Wednesday, August 23, 2017 after a brief illness. He was born March 7, 1920 in Roopville, GA to Ida Ruth Smith Hammond and Dr. George Willis Hammond. In addition to two brothers, George Willis, Jr. and Bobby, he was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Pollyanna Prather Hammond. After graduating from Newnan High School and attending North Georgia College, Crip worked as the assistant business manager at Georgia Tech.
In World War II, he served in the Navy for 44 months and was honorably discharged with the rank of Chief Yeoman. His naval duties began on an escort ship, the USS Dickerson. He eventually took part in the invasion of Palermo, Sicily aboard the PC 559 and did reconnaissance in the Caribbean, Mediterranean, and North Africa. While the ship was in dry dock in January 1941, he married Pollyanna Prather. The couple went on to have four children, Bill, Merry, Roxie, and Cris. After the war, Crip worked as a teller at the Manufacturers National Bank, and eventually was promoted to President in 1965. After he retired, he was recruited to become the president of a new bank, the Bank of Newnan, which is now part of Regions Bank.
His career in banking spanned 43 years. Crip served in a voluntary capacity for several local boards and civic organizations including Newnan Kiwanis Club, Chamber of Commerce, local chapter of the American Red Cross and Coweta County Hospital Authority. He was also a member of the American Legion, Shriners, VFW, Masons, Elk, Atlanta Commerce Club, and Newnan Country Club. Harold was raised in the Newnan First United Methodist Church. In his later years, he joined Central Baptist Church.
He is survived by children Bill Hammond (Chris) of Smyrna, GA, Merry Todd (Pat) of Newnan, GA, Roxie Clark (Danny) of Moreland, GA and Cris Hammond (Krissi) of Dacula, GA. His grandchildren include David Funk of Lagrange, GA, Chris Finch (Robert) of Ooltewah, TN, Polly (Will) Wilson of Ooltewah, TN, Kim Clark of Newnan, GA, Alexa Coggin (Drew) of Palmetto, GA, Crystal Schaeffer (Christopher) of Hogansville, GA and Nate Hammond of Dacula, GA. There are twelve great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother Hulett Hammond and sister-in-law, Barbara Hammond of Gainesville, GA, a sister-in-law, Mary Hammond of Newnan along with an extended family of nieces and nephews. Funeral arrangements are by McKoon Funeral Home at 38 Jackson Street in Newnan.
