Martha “Helen” Ireland Hancock, 99, passed away Wednesday, November 4, 2020 at Tifton Health and Rehabilitation Center. Due to Covid restrictions, a private family graveside funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 7, 2020, at Eureka Primitive Baptist Church in Irwinville, where she will be laid to rest. The Rev. Lock Wilford, Sr. will officiate.
Mrs. Hancock’s grandsons, Keith Carr, Kelly Carr, Josh Hancock, Jason Hancock, Rob Benton and Adam Bacot will serve as pallbearers.
Born September 21, 1921 in Turner County, Mrs. Hancock was the daughter of the late Herbert Greenberry Ireland and Eva Lea Benford Ireland. She was also preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, James Hiram Hancock, who she married on December 14, 1940; two brothers and sister-in-law, Roger and Cortez Pate Ireland and Harrell and Elma Ireland, all from Turner County; brothers-in-law, Sandy Childs of Valley, Alabama, Bussey Coker of Sycamore; a son-in-law, Ernest Larry Carr of Tifton; and numerous other relatives. She retired after 28 years as a receptionist for Drs. Pittman and Davis and, after retirement, she worked for her son’s insurance company (The Hancock Agency) for many years. She was a member of New Providence Primitive Baptist Church in Rochelle and a former member of Eureka Primitive Baptist Church in Irwinville. She was also a former member of the Tifton Golden Age Club and served as treasurer and monthly member contact secretary for many years, and she was a former Hospice volunteer for 10 years.
Mrs. Hancock received the Tift County George A. Wright Award in 2011. This award goes to individuals, 60 years of age and older, who exemplify the qualities that George A Wright exhibited: community service, church service, patriotism, devotion to family and career.
Mrs. Hancock was always a hard worker and she had a servant’s heart. She loved God, her church, her family and her friends. In her earlier years, she was known for her delicious fried apple tarts, fried chicken, lemon and chocolate pies, which she took to church and gave to friends. She always visited and took care of her family and friends who were sick by sitting with them, taking them food, and washing their clothes. She enjoyed reading her Kindle and doing Word Search puzzles. She had lived in Tifton approximately 80 years.
Mrs. Hancock is survived by one son, Kenneth “Ken” Hiram Hancock of Tifton; two daughters and one son-in-law, Kathryn “Kay” C. Hancock Carr and Lynn Hancock Benton Henderson (Wayne), all of Tifton; a former daughter-in-law, Elaine Banks Hancock Wilford (Lock) of Dublin; three sisters, Bonnie Faye McCaffery of Thomasville, Hazel Lea Childs of Valley, Alabama and Dorothy “Dot” I. Coker of Sycamore; six grandchildren and their spouses, Keith Carr (Allison), Kelly Carr (Jackie), Josh Hancock (Kay), Jason Hancock (Nicole), Lori Benton Bacot (Adam) and Robert O. Benton; eleven great-grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made in memory of Martha Helen Hancock to Hospice of Tift Area, 618 North Central Avenue, Tifton, GA 31794; or Bob Lord, Clerk, New Providence Primitive Baptist Church, 155 Brahman Road, Fitzgerald, GA 31750.