James Richard Hand

Mr. James Richard Hand, age 84, of Palm Harbor FL, formerly of Hazlehurst, died Tuesday, March 15, 2022 at St. Mark Village.

Mr. Hand was born April 28, 1937 in Jeff Davis County.  He is preceded in death by his parents Carlos Allan Hand and Gertrude Williams Hand, and his wife, Marlene Joyce Creamer Hand, as well as his brother, Reginald Bruce Hand.

Richard is the third born son of Carlos and Gertrude Hand. He and his brothers Carlos, Reginald, and Larry grew up working on the family farm in Hazlehurst, cultivating tobacco, cotton, vegetables, and prize-winning blueberries.

Richard loved to help people and never met a stranger. He was very outgoing at Jeff Davis High School. He served as class president, and worked on the newspaper and annual staff. He played saxophone and was active in the band. Richard served in the Air Force for four years, even living in Greenland for a year.

He served the Central Georgia area through Oconee Cable Vision.

A man of all trades, he later owned Richard Hand Chevrolet-Oldsmobile in Hazlehurst. He and his wife moved to Amelia Island, where he retired as a real estate agent. He spent the years following the death of his wife traveling the United States in his RV.

He is a father to three daughters, Joy Bowen, Janet Gerard and Jeanne Lokey. He is celebrated as the “Best Granddaddy in the World” by Hunter and Maddison Lokey and Dane and Tyler Hand. Also he is a beloved brother to Carlos and Larry Hand and deeply loved by his extended family and close friend Emily Beecher.

 Funeral Services will be held Friday, March 18, 2022 at 1:00pm in the Chapel of Wainright-Parlor Funeral Home with Rev. Patrick Owens officiating.

Interment will follow in the Hazlehurst City Cemetery.

The Hand Family and Wainright-Parlor Funeral Home respectfully ask all in attendance to continue to follow social distancing guidelines set by our local health district and the CDC.

Wainright-Parlor Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of James Richard Hand, please visit our floral store.