Saturday, November 2, 2024

Sara Hamm, 81

Sara Hamm (Andrews Mortuary and Crematory)

WILMINGTON — Sara Hamm Memorial On Thursday, October 17th, 2024 Sara Hoover Hamm passed away in Wilmington, North Carolina after a year long battle with cancer. Anyone who knew Sara can guess how she handled her diagnosis; with the quiet strength, matter of fact practicality, and warm humor that defined her life. No one will be surprised to know that her every thought was for her family.

Born on November 19th, 1942; Sara Hoover came into this world defying expectations. Born prematurely, Sara quickly went from an infant not expected to survive to “the fattest baby the doctors had ever seen”. Sara grew up in Winston-Salem. She divided her days between band practice, yearbook club, and helping her mother with the Moravian church choir. She grew up in a house that loved cooking, baking, fishing, music, art, and Rook.

A few weeks before graduating from James A. Gray High School in 1961, Sara went sledding with a classmate from the next street over, Charles Stanley Hamm. Unbeknownst to her, Stanley went home and told his mother, “I’m going to marry Sara Hoover”. A few months after Sara graduated Guilford College with a teaching degree, he did so on June 25, 1966.

Sara found herself with an unexpected passion for teaching 5th and 6th graders and was known for taking on the “troubled kids’ with her signature warmth and determination. She taught until May 5th, 1977 when she brought home her first child, Joseph Terry Hamm. Then she retired from teaching and took on a role that would in many ways define her: Mother.

In 1983, Sara and Stan brought home their daughter, Jennifer Frances Hamm. No two children ever had a more devoted mother. The health and happiness of her children was her utmost focus. Her husband was often known to call her “the Real Mary Poppins”. In 2001 after her husband’s early retirement, the family fulfilled a long time dream of the whole family by moving to Wilmington, NC.

In Wilmington, Sara’s lifelong love of art narrowed into a passion for watercolor painting. This passion for art eventually brought Sara full circle back to teaching. She delighted in teaching beginner watercolor classes in her neighborhood, but nothing compared to the delight she took in teaching her grandchildren. Sara’s three grandchildren were a source of endless happiness, and she could never turn down a chance to spend time with them. She took immense joy in watching them grow into their own personalities and passions.

Called “Donna” by the grandchildren after a persistent mispronunciation by her oldest grandchild, Sara ended every interaction with “Donna loves you”. She’s wanted them to remember that above all else. That sentiment sums Sara up in a nutshell. All her life was about giving and not taking; making sure everyone in her life knew they were seen, valued, loved, and cared for.

She will be forever loved and remembered by her surviving family: husband Stan, children Joey and Jenny, nieces Angie and Amber, and her grandchildren: Charlie, Emily, and Henry.

To Sara, the focus of life should be on living and not dying. As per her wishes, there will be a brief visitation on Tuesday October 29th from 1:00-2:00 at Andrews Mortuary on College Rd.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Samaritan’s Purse, her favorite charity.

Please leave condolences for the family here.

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