Gary Hammond

On Tuesday, February 28th, 2023, Gary Wayne Hammond, a devoted husband and father of three, tragically passed away at the age of 50.

Gary graduated from Wingate University with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and became a highly successful financial consultant, leveraging his exceptional people skills. He met his wife of seventeen years, Missy Peterson, through a mutual friend. Together, they raised their three children, Mia (18), Anthony (16), and Sophia (16), in Denver, North Carolina, where they have lived for the past 15 years.

Born and raised in Kankakee, Illinois, Gary was the youngest of five siblings. He played tennis at The University of North Carolina at Charlotte and remained an avid sports fan, particularly of the Chicago Cubs and the Carolina Panthers.

Gary enjoyed playing golf for both business and pleasure, recently experiencing the pride of being bested by his son, Anthony, for the first time.

Known for his enthusiasm and positive impact, Gary coached baseball and softball, touching more lives than he ever realized. At work, he transformed customers into friends, building strong relationships with everyone he met.

His presence lit up every room, and he was rarely seen without a smile. Gary never stopped, never showed fear, never knew the meaning of giving up, and always saw the best in everyone and every situation.

He is survived by his wife, Missy, their daughters, Mia and Sophia, and their son, Anthony.

The Gary Hammond Scholarship Foundation was established to honor the lasting memory and meaningful impact Gary made on the lives of his family, friends, coworkers, and customers. Gary was deeply involved in coaching his children’s baseball and softball teams, positively influencing the lives of hundreds of young athletes in the East Lincoln County area.

The Gary Hammond Scholarship is designed to recognize and reward two graduating seniors who have demonstrated exceptional sportsmanship, commitment to their team, and active engagement within the school community.

This scholarship aims to support one male and one female student who have excelled not only academically but also as integral members of one of the four varsity sports teams: Lincoln Charter School, Bandys High School, East Lincoln High School, North Lincoln High School.

Applicants must complete an application and submit an essay explaining why they are deserving of the award. The Scholarship Director will review all submissions and select a group of finalists. Final decisions will be made by the full board.

Scholarship recipients will be announced each spring at their respective school’s scholarship banquet. Awarded funds may be paid directly to the school upon receipt of an invoice, or alternatively, deposited into a 529 education savings account in the student’s name.