WILLIAM DANNY HAMSLEY's Obituary
William Danny Hamsley, age 68, of Haynesville, Georgia, passed away unexpectedly on September 21, 2022. He was born to William Joseph (Buster) Hamsley and Corine Cannon Hamsley in Hawkinsville, Georgia on December 29, 1953. He grew up on his family’s farm in Haynesville, Georgia where he learned farm ingenuity, the freedom of wide-open spaces, and generosity.
He attended Perry High School and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Forest Resources from the University of Georgia in 1977 and a Master of Science degree from the University of Georgia in 1979. He married Ann Sharpless, his wife of 45 years, in 1976. Danny had a fulfilling career in forestry for 32 years, working in an industry that grows and utilizes trees, his favorite natural resource. He worked for Buckeye, Procter and Gamble, and Weyerhaeuser Company. Danny enjoyed managing his family tree farm in Houston County, Georgia, and proudly displayed the American Tree Farm sign by the roadside. Danny loved woodworking and sawmilling. After his official retirement from Weyerhaeuser in 2011, Danny started his second career as a sawmiller and started Hamsley Hardwood. He was a true artist in turning an old forgotten tree into a timeless masterpiece. He was also a moderator for the Forestry Forum, an online community that discusses trees and sawmilling, which he checked every morning.
Danny was a thoughtful man with an affinity for tree identification. He categorized trees and explained every detail in botanist terms: an apple fruit was a pome, while a cherry was a drupe. His detailed explanations earned him the nickname “Mr. Big Words” on the Forestry Forum. He also loved music; his favorite was bluegrass, which he loved to play with his guitar, bass guitar, and upright bass. He enjoyed fishing with his friends from trout fishing in the north Georgia mountains to wading in the waves off the coast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Danny was an amateur archaeologist; at first glance, he could tell you the time period in which an arrowhead was created, and he spent many days with his wife, Ann, finding them.
Most of all, he was devoted to his family. Danny said that “the meaning of life is family.” He found unabashed joy in spending time with his family, especially telling stories of his childhood and cooking and sharing meals with them. He was preceded in death by his parents, William Joseph (Buster) Hamsley and Corine Cannon Hamsley, and his sister Sandra Harper. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Ann; his three daughters and sons-in-law, Amanda Lang (Max), Jennifer Jarvis (Andrew), and Kristen Jones (Casey); and his three grandchildren, Maddy Claire Lang, Clay Lang, and Ronin Jarvis. He is also survived by his brothers, Terry Hamsley (Cynthia) and Kenny Hamsley (Ember).
He loved unconditionally. His family and those that knew him could not have asked for a better husband, father, or friend. We were all truly blessed to have him in our lives. Even though he is gone from us now, his absence is temporary. He is waiting to see us all again.
The visitation will be held at Watson-Hunt Funeral Home on Monday, September 26, 2022 at 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The family will hold a private service for close family at a later date.
PER THE REQUEST OF THE FAMILY, MASKS ARE REQUIRED AND COVID PROTOCOLS WILL BE FOLLOWED AT THE VISITATION.
Condolences for the family may be left in the online guestbook at www.watsonhunt.com. Watson-Hunt Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.
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