Rebecca "Becky" Hollowell Hamrick, age 96, died Monday, July 11, 2016, at Brookdale of Shelby. Born in historic, picturesque Edenton on April 17, 1920, she was the daughter of the late Charles Thomas Hollowell, Sr. and Annie Gordon Hollowell. She was also preceded in death by her beloved husband, Alger Vason Hamrick, Jr. and her brother, Charles Thomas Hollowell, Jr. as well as her father-in-law, and mother-in-law, Alger Vason Hamrick, Sr. and Ettie Abernathy Hamrick.

Mrs. Hamrick graduated from Edenton High School in 1936; she received the Associate of Arts degree from Mars Hill College in 1938, her A.B. degree in English from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 1940; and her M.Ed. in English from UNCG in 1959. In recent years, she was trained as a writing consultant through the National Writing Project at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Mrs. Hamrick's professional career was always varied and rewarding. After her first year of teaching at Taylorsville High School in 1940-41, she became office and traffic manager for Cooperative Mills, Inc., in Statesville as an efficient and capable substitute for her husband, who was away fighting in World War II. After he returned to resume his job, she next served eight years as bookkeeper and secretary in a family business in Shelby, A.V. Hamrick and Company, Inc. From 1957-1984, she taught English at Shelby High School. Through that position, which she viewed as a calling, she touched countless lives. Over the years former students have sent notes of appreciation attributing their college success, especially in English, to Mrs. Hamrick's inspiration and rigorous training. While at Shelby High School, she was department chairperson, helped to add Advanced Placement English to the curriculum, and was a long-time teacher of that course. She organized and led student trips to Europe on numerous occasions throughout her 27 years there.

The first ties to Cleveland County came in 1941 when she married Vason, a Shelby native whom she had first met at Mars Hill College. After World War II, when the family settled in Shelby, she became involved in church, community organizations, philanthropic concerns, and professional leagues. She became a member of First

Baptist Church of Shelby in 1948 and always enjoyed involvement in missions and choir. She showed her servant leadership by serving as a deacon numerous terms, and was chairman of the deacons. A former pastor described her as a woman of "inquiring mind, excellent personality, forthright demeanor, and incisive judgment."

In the community Mrs. Hamrick enjoyed being a member of the Cecilia Music Club and National Federation of Music Clubs, the VFW Auxiliary, and the Cleveland County Choral Society. She was an active part of the North Carolina Association of Educators, the North Carolina English Teachers Association; the National Council of Teachers of English; the American Association of University Women; the Alpha Delta Kappa Honor Sorority for Educators; and the P.E.O., a philanthropic educational organization. She was State President and South Atlantic Regional Secretary-Treasurer of the AAUW. Especially dear to her was her membership in Alpha Delta Kappa. She served as North Carolina State President, 1974-1976; she went on to become Southeast Regional Secretary, 1976-1978; and in recent years she was inducted into the North Carolina ADK Hall of Fame for her ongoing leadership.

Mrs. Hamrick received many honors over the years, including being named Shelby City Schools Teacher of the Year in 1980; however, she felt that her greatest accomplishment was being the mother of two sons, both of whom she taught at Shelby High School. She was always proud of them and their families. Family and friends were definitely of top importance to her. She also enjoyed reading, music, needlework, other artistic projects, and travels at home and abroad. She put her trust in God, inspired others to perform to the best of their ability, and embraced life with zest.

Mrs. Hamrick leaves behind to cherish her memory, sons, Dr. Alger Vason Hamrick, III and wife Ann of Raleigh; and Charles Gregory Hamrick and wife Marie of Belmont. She is also survived by four grandchildren, Rebecca Hamrick Boone (Robert) of Winston-Salem; Ann F. Hamrick of Raleigh; Alger Vason Hamrick, IV (Grace) of Raleigh; and Alice Hamrick Porter (Josh) of Oxford, MS; six great-grandchildren; brother-in-law Dean Hamrick of Charlotte; and several precious nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The funeral service will be held at 2:00 pm, Thursday, July 14, 2016, in Webb Chapel at First Baptist Church with Rev. Perry Holloman officiating. Family will receive friends from 1-2 pm in the Ladies' Parlor. Burial will follow at Sunset Cemetery.

The family would like to thank the doctors and staff at Shelby Medical and staff at Brookdale Shelby for their love and care.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, 120 N. Lafayette Street, Shelby, NC 28150; or to Hospice Cleveland County, 951 Wendover Heights Drive, Shelby, NC 28150.

Cecil M Burton Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the family of Mrs. Hamrick.

Guest Registry is available at www.cecilmburtonfuneralhome.com