W. Hamm Obituary

William Jeff Hamm, Sr., longtime Jackson resident, went to his heavenly home June 17, 2017. Born in Oxford to Jeff K. and Opal Hamm on October 27, 1924, Jeff graduated from University High School in 1942. After his freshman year at Ole Miss, Jeff entered infantry basic training at Fort McClellan, Alabama. After receiving specialized training at The Citadel and Virginia Tech, he went to Europe as a member of the 84th Infantry Division. He fought in crucial battles of World War II from September 1944 until Germany's surrender May 1945. Along with the Combat Infantry Badge, he earned five medals and three battle stars. After leaving the Army in 1946 with rank of Sergeant and Squad Leader, he returned to Ole Miss where he earned a Bachelors degree in Business and at the same studied at the UM School of Law. After receiving his law degree in 1949, he was admitted to the Mississippi Bar. At Ole Miss, he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon and served on staff of the Mississippi Law Journal. He served as a First Lieutenant of the Judge Advocate General Department of the Air Force.

He first practiced law in Jackson from 1949-1951 before joining the Land Department of The Texas Company serving in both Jackson and New Orleans offices. In 1955, Jeff returned to Jackson to accept a position as Vice President and attorney of Lyle Cashion Company, an independent oil producer. He remained with Cashion firm until 1987, also serving as an adjunct professor of Oil and Gas Law at Mississippi College Law School.

Jeff joined Wells, Moore, Simmons, Stubblefield & Neeld in February 1987.

Jeff served on the legal staff to Governor Kirk Fordice both terms. Jeff was a past president of the Capital City Petroleum Club and the Kiwanis Club and was active in The University of Mississippi Alumni Association. A member of First Presbyterian Church, he faithfully served as a deacon and then Elder Emeritus.

Visitation will be 12:00 noon Tuesday June 20, 2017 in the Courtyard of First Presbyterian Church of Jackson. with funeral services to follow in the Sanctuary at 2:00pm. Entombment will be in Parkway Memorial Park, Ridgeland, MS

The legacy he leaves for his loved ones is his steadfast faith in his Lord in all circumstances, his humble gratitude expressed to God in prayer before each meal, and the example of how to live life as a gentleman.

Jeff is survived by his wife Nelle Slay Hamm of 65 years, Ridgeland, MS; son, William Jeff Hamm, Jr. (Elizabeth) of Tupelo, MS; son-in-law, Joe Anthony, Olive Branch, MS; grandchildren, Ken(Ashley) Anthony, Germantown,TN; Jill(Trey)Lamar, Senatobia, MS; Laura (Foster) Gullett, Bologna, Italy; William Jeff Hamm, III, Nashville, TN; Leslie Hamm, Tupelo, MS; great-grandchildren Molly Cate, Caroline, and Jack Anthony of Germantown, TN, and Ford, John Brantley, and Annie Lamar of Senatobia, MS, sisters-in-law Rose Batte and Retha Jeffreys, Ridgeland,MS. He was preceded in death by his parents, daughter, Suzanne Hamm Anthony, and granddaughter, Jennifer Rose Hamm, and sister, Dorothy Spencer.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to First Presbyterian Church, Jackson, MS or Herb Kosten (Pancreatic Cancer), 6060 Poplar Ave, Suite 140, Memphis, TN 38119