Wilford Garnet Hatcher

Wilford Garnet Hatcher was born to the late Nannie Carter Hatcher and Charlie Langhorne Hatcher on January 1, 1918 in Cumberland County, Virginia. He departed this life on March 2, 2012 at Memorial Regional Hospital in Mechanicsville, Virginia with his granddaughter Tracey by his side. He is preceded in death by his three sisters, Mary Johnson, Estelle Edwards and Gracie Lewis; three brothers, Ollie, Samuel and Floyd Hatcher. He attended the public schools in Cumberland and enjoyed his childhood days with his parents and siblings. At an early age, Wilford accepted Christ and was baptized at Pleasant View Baptist Church in Cumberland. Wilford left Cumberland to gain employment in Richmond, VA and then moved on to West New York, NY where he worked and lived with his aunt Lil and cousin Berl Lee Hatcher. After a number of years Wilford returned to Richmond and was employed at Windsor Farms. There he met his future wife Ruth Elizabeth Hunt and on February 19, 1943 they wed and remained so for the next sixty-eight years. Wilford and Ruth moved to New York where they held various positions in Nyack, Manhattan and Queens before settling in Wyandanch and North Babylon. Wilford worked at C&D Cement Block Company, but realized he needed to be his own boss. At that he acquired his own ‘filling stations’ first in Wyandanch and then in North Amityville until he retired. After a number of years in retirement, Wilford and Ruth decided to pull up stakes and return to Richmond. Wilford was a devoted husband, father and mentor. He loved to talk, was an excellent businessman and never met a stranger. He was an active member of Hollywood Baptist Church in Amityville, NY and First Union Baptist Church in Richmond, VA. He enjoyed community service with Kiwanis and was a lifelong member of George Washington Carver Lodge No. 95 of Wyandanch, NY. Wilford leaves to cherish his memory a devoted wife, Ruth Hatcher; two daughters, Ruth Ann Johnson (Gregory) and Vanessa Hatcher; granddaughter, Tracey Cabanis; two great-grandsons, William and Christopher; two sisters, Annie Brown and Louise Williams, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, First Union Baptist Church family and many other caring friends.

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Wilford Garnet Hatcher

January 1, 1918 - March 2, 2012