Boyce Jackson Hanna, 92, passed away peacefully at home on Sunday afternoon, August 5, 2018. He was born on February 10, 1926 to Hoke Jackson and Georgia Cloninger Hanna in Gastonia, North Carolina. Since 1936, he was a member of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, where he served as Chairman of the Board of Deacons, the Board of Christian Education, a Sunday School teacher, Superintendent of the Adult Department of Church School, Chairman of the Long-Range Planning Board, Elder, and member of the choir. For the last 39 years, he was a faithful member of Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Shelby, where he showed his loved for his church by serving on various committees and boards and teaching the Bayliss Sunday School class for many years. Boyce and his wife, Joan, were also associate members of Pinecrest ARP Church in Flat Rock, NC.

After graduating from Belmont Abbey in Belmont, NC, Mr. Hanna embarked on a broad business career which included ownership in newspapers, cafeterias, textile mills, and more across the Carolinas and beyond, prior to entering radio broadcasting. He owned and operated seven radio stations, including WADA in Shelby, and was a member of the National Association of Broadcasters, Radio Advertising Bureau, North Carolina Association of Broadcasters, and Associated Press Wire Study committee. These business interests as well as his present holdings in Printing and Packaging, Inc. in Shelby, Printcraft Corporation in Lexington, NC, Printcraft Central America in Santa Anna, El Salvador, and Printcraft China in Wuxi, Jiangsu, are all operated under Hanna Group Industries in Shelby.

Mr. Hanna also served in many civic offices. He was a charter member and Vice President of the Gastonia Young Businessman's Club, Director of the Gastonia Optimist Club, and a member of the Gastonia Diamond Club. He served two terms as Director of the Shelby Merchants' Association, and served on various committees in the Shelby Chamber of Commerce.

A member of Cleveland Country Club in Shelby, Mr. Hanna was an avid golfer and at times, he played golf everyday. He was one of the original investors in Deerbrook Golf Club in Shelby and owned and operated several golf driving ranges over the years. He also loved traveling to his homes in Flat Rock, NC, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and Nassau, Bahamas. Yet, there was nothing he enjoyed more than the time he spent with the love of his life, Joan Shelley Hanna. Their love story superseded all understanding and will continue on forever.

Mr. Hanna's life plan was to help as many people as possible. His gift of 86 acres to the City of Shelby will be enjoyed by many when Hanna Park opens in November of this year.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Hanna was preceded in death by his two brothers, Hoke J. Hanna, Jr. and Charles W. Hanna both of Gastonia, and his grandson, Peter Bielski of Greensboro.

Mr. Hanna is survived by his wife of 38 years, Joan Shelley Hanna; his sister, Mary Jane Whittington of Charlotte, NC; his children (grandchildren), Debbie Hanna of San Rafael, CA (Elizabeth), Martha Jane Williams of Phoenix, AZ (Charlie), Buddy Hanna of Shelby, Judy Allen of Shelby (Austin, Cody, & Meredith), Ginger Allen Whitehead and her husband Danny of West Springs, SC (Shelley & Seth), Sandy Allen and his wife Pam of Shelby (Jennifer & Skip), Randy Allen and his wife Cathy of Shelby (Cortlan & Caroline), and Altman Ann Allen Anderson and her husband Richard of Shelby (Arden & Alex); along with many great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and special friends.

Mr. Hanna will be lying in state at his home. The family will receive friends on Monday evening from 6:30-8:30 pm, August 6, 2018, and at other times at 310 Country Club Acres, Shelby, NC 28150. The funeral service will be held Tuesday evening, August 7, 2018, at 5:00 pm at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Shelby with the entombment to follow at 310 Country Club Acres.

A memorial garden is established at his resting place. Memorials may be made by adding a plant to this garden in his memory by calling Stacy's Garden World, 1326 N. Post Road, Shelby, NC 28150 (704-482-4407). The blue hydrangea was one of his favorites.

Cecil M. Burton Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the family of Mr. Hanna.

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Guest Registry is available at www.cecilmburtonfuneralhome.com