William Gerald Hand

Elder William Gerald Hand died peacefully on December 15, 2008, at the La Posada-Mesilla Valley Hospice. He was born in Cleburne County, Alabama on March 4, 1914 to Edward Corbin Hand and Exer Anna Shepphard Hand. He spent his early years in Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia and Oklahoma and many years of his young life working on farms in West Texas near the community of Loop, Texas. As a young man, he followed his family to Booneville, Arkansas where he met and married Willie Adell Bryant. In Booneville, Gerald began his career in construction, first as a laborer, then a carpenter and eventually as a supervisor. During WWll he lived in Kansas, Colorado and Richmond, CA where he worked for the war effort in shipbuilding. After the war, he moved his family to the Pecos Valley of New Mexico settling in Artesia, NM where he and Adell raised their seven children. In Artesia, Gerald was the superintendent of many commercial construction jobs in eastern NM. Gerald became an ordained minister in the Primitive Baptist Church. He constituted, and was the pastor of Primitive Baptist Churches in Carlsbad, Roswell and Artesia. In his role as a minister he performed numerous weddings, baptisms and funerals. He was well respected in the Primitive Baptist Church as a preacher, pastor and leader. In recent years, he resided near his children in Las Cruces, NM. Gerald loved to sing, and singing became an important part of his families' lives, especially singing church hymns and Sacred Harp music. Elder Gerald Hand was preceded in death by his wife, Adell Hand and his parents. He is survived by his seven children, Marion Lewis and husband, Donald of Santa Fe, NM, Donna Sewell of Las Cruces, NM, Carol Selleck of Santa Fe, NM, David Hand and wife Karen of Las Cruces, NM Janet Morgan and husband Jim of Playas, NM, Larry Hand and wife Linda of Cedar Hill, TX and Lori Rodgers and husband Elder Mike Rodgers of San Antonio, TX. He is also survived by 21 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren, one great- great grandson and numerous nieces and nephews. He was also preceded in death by his daughter- in- law, Tina Hand and brothers, Eric Hand, Elder R.C. Hand, Ralph Hand, Merwyn Hand and sister, Madge Tate. His is also survived by a brother, Elder Berwyn Hand. A visitation will be held from 5 to 7 PM on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2008 at Getz Funeral Home. Funeral Services are at 10:00 AM on Thursday, Dec. 18, also at Getz Funeral Home with burial will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Pallbearers and honorary pallbearers will be his grandsons. Memorial contributions may be made to Harmony Plains Singing School, A Primitive Baptist Foundation, 4304, 45th St., Lubbock, TX. 79413 PDF Printable Version