James Gary Hanks

Reverend James Gary Hanks “PawPaw”, 69, of Moultrie, passed away at his home surrounded by his family on Thursday, October 31, 2024. 

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, at Friendship Alliance Church with Bro. Terry Sellars officiating. Interment will follow at Baker Hillcrest Memorial Gardens.

The family will receive friends one hour before the service.

Born on April 9, 1955, in Cowpens, South Carolina, he was the son of the late James Lewis Hanks and Cherry Marie Bullard Hanks. Mr. Hanks was a minister of the Gospel of Jesus, he pastored three churches in Georgia including Statesboro’s, Douglas and Vidalia. He pastored Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church in Gaston, South Carolina for 13 years before moving back to Moultrie to semi-retire. He was preaching at Shingler Church in Sumner, Georgia until his illness. He was of the Baptist faith. Mr. Hanks was also a delivery driver for J&L Growers in Moultrie for the past 5 years. 

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Lynn Scarborough.

Mr. Hanks is survived by his loving wife of 48 years, Julia Anne Johnston Hanks of Moultrie; children, Melanie Johnson of Moultrie, Jamie Hanks and wife Kim of Valdosta, Stephen Hanks of Las Vegas, Nevada, and Rachel Wooten and husband Nick of Chapel Hill, Tennessee; grandchildren, Autumn Hanks and fiancé John, Summer Johnson, Kolby Johnson, Gracie Johnson, Charlie Johnson, Haley Smoak, Shelby Smoak, Evan Hanks, Alyssa Hanks; great-grandson, Ramses Hanks; sister, Darlene and Jimmy Shelton; and brother in law, Kerry Scarborough, Tommy and Charlotte Brown, David and Vivan Lewis; and many nieces and nephews. 

Arrangements have been entrusted to Baker Funeral Home.