Stephen Gregory "Greg" Hankins

Stephen Gregory "Greg" Hankins, 59, of Mount Gilead, died Sunday, July 24. He died from complications from Myelodysplastic Syndrome and Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) at his home. He was a native of Richlands and Jewell Ridge, VA. Mr. Hankins was a graduate of Richlands High School and the Valedictorian of the Class of 1975. He attended Davidson College, Davidson, NC and graduated Cum Laude in 1979, with BA honors in Religion. Mr. Hankins earned a Masters in Divinity degree at Harvard University, Cambridge, MA in 1982. He had worked as a consultant for Butterfield Communications in Belmont, MA under David Butterfield. In 1986, he and his family moved to Las Cruces, New Mexico and he worked with his father and brother in a start up newspaper venture. The family moved to Omaha, NE in 1987 where he worked for Pappas Telecasting as the Marketing Director and in Sales Support at Channel 42 KPTM television. Starting in 1988, Mr. Hankins worked for WTVF Channel 5 Television station in Nashville, TN as the Marketing Director under General Manager, Tom Erwin and eventually for Lemuel E. Lewis of Landmark Communications Inc. He served in this position for seven years. In 1995, he and his family moved to Mount Gilead, NC to pursue his dream career in the newspaper business, in the beginning working with his father and brother for two years at the Montgomery Herald, Troy, NC and eventually becoming the editor and publisher of The Seven Lakes Times of Seven Lakes, NC. He did this for over twenty years with his wife, Marcella (Marcy) Hankins. He was preceded in death by his father, Robert Guy Hankins; maternal grandparents, Avery and Narcie Smith; and paternal grandparents, Sutherland and Georgia Hankins. Mr. Hankins is survived by his wife, Marcella Hankins; daughters, Jennifer (Jeni) A. Hankins of Nashville, TN, Sarah E. Hankins of Greensboro, NC; his mother, Ann Smith Hankins Shreve of Jewell Ridge, VA; brother Thomas G. Hankins, and his wife Crystal of Candor, NC; half-sister, Stephanie Grayson Pierce, and her husband Joshua of Mooresville, NC; his nieces and nephews; and his faithful cat, Olivia. At Mr. Hankins' request there will be no local service or memorial held. In lieu of flowers, donations to defray medical costs may be made to: The Women of Seven Lakes, Hankins Account, 850 Seven Lakes North, Seven Lakes, NC 27376. Arrangements provided by Pugh Funeral Home of Troy, NC.