Harold Ray Hancock

Harold Hancock passed peacefully from this life Monday morning January 9, 2023, after a 20-year battle with Parkinson’s disease. He had lost his ability to do many things he wanted to do. The hardest loss was his ability to walk and sing. We can now rejoice that he is walking and singing a new song in heaven. Harold was born in Cullman County, Alabama on May 7,1937 to Thomas Albert and Lilly Hancock. He grew up on a farm, growing cotton and later raising chickens for a local poultry processing company. After high school, he worked in Washington, D.C. for the FBI. While there, he felt Gods call to the ministry and left Washington working for State Farm Insurance in Birmingham then enrolling at Howard College, now Samford University, to study for the ministry. He soon felt the Lord leading him to music ministry and enrolled in the music department. Soon after arriving at Howard, he met the love of his life, Helen Lee, in a Sociology class. They married March 29, 1959. Harold felt the Lord leading him to the mission field early in their marriage. Helen did not initially receive that calling but did later and they were appointed by the International Mission Board in 1969 and went to Korea in early 1970. They returned to the US in 1980. At that time, Harold became minister of music at Capital Heights Baptist church in Montgomery for eight years, then went to First Baptist Church, Montgomery as minister of missions and media for the next 19 years. Music was his training, but missions was his first love. Those years at First Baptist were the most rewarding of his ministry. He is pre-deceased by his parents, Thomas Albert & and Lilly Hancock, brothers Frank, Tom, and Sherrell, and daughter Lynda Taylor. He is survived by his wife Helen, son Bryan (Allison), grandchildren Russell Hancock, Catherine Richardson (Schuck), Jenna Carlisle (Will), Holly Hancock, Ashton Davis (Jordan), Lily Taylor, and two great-grandchildren Carson Davis, and Ahna Jade Davis. Harold loved his Lord with all his heart and longed to be with Him. He also loved his family dearly! We want to thank all the caregivers at Columbia Cottage who have cared for him so well the past few months. We also want to thank Krystal Whitman and Brittany Riggs who cared for him at home. The family will have a private burial on Saturday morning, January 14 officiated by Chris Jones. Visitation will be at 12:30PM at First Baptist Church, Montgomery with a hymn sing in the sanctuary starting at 1:00 PM. A memorial service will be held in the sanctuary beginning at 2:00PM, officiated by Jay Wolf. In lieu of flowers, please donate in Harold’s memory to the First Baptist Foundation for the Harold and Helen Hancock Mission Fund, 305 South Perry Street, Montgomery, AL 36104 or give online at www.montgomeryfbc.org.

Harold Ray Hancock

May 7, 1937 - January 9, 2023