Bro. Wimbly J. Hankins, 92, passed away on Tuesday, August 31, 2021, at the MS State Veterans Home in Kosciusko, MS. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 P.M. on Sunday, September 5th, at Porter Funeral Home, with Rev. Lori Lee officiating. Interment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be Sunday from 2:00 P.M. until the service time at the funeral home. Porter Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Bro. Hankins was born February 19, 1929, in Laurel, MS, to Rev. Walter and Vera Hankins in Biloxi, MS. He became a born-again Christian at the age of 15. In 1946, he moved to Tupelo, MS, to attend the Pentecostal Bible Institute. From there he went full time as a traveling evangelist. While conducting an evangelistic revival in Prichard, Al, he met a young church member, Mary Eunice Coleman. They were married on July 12, 1949. For two years, they traveled extensively in evangelist work. Then they pastored a church in Sheffield, Al, and eventually moved to New Orleans, LA, where their two children were born, Debora Ann and Daniel Brian.
While in New Orleans, Bro Hankins was drafted into the U. S. Army and was stationed at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, from August 1954 until March 1955. Upon completing his training, he was stationed at Landstube, Germany until he was discharged. From there he returned home to New Orleans and attended Loyola University and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in business administration in 1959. He accepted a job with Arthur Anderson and Company, an accounting firm. There he passed the Certified Public Accountant exam and worked as an accountant in Metairie, LA. He also served as an assistant pastor and founded a church. Then in November 1966, he and his family moved to Walpole, MA, where Bro. Hankins was offered a position with the United Fruit Company in Boston, MA. He and his family lived there for 36 years. While living there, they pioneered a church in Norwood, MA, which was later moved to Walpole. He and Mrs. Hankins pastored that church for over thirty years and retired in 1998. In 2002, they moved to Brandon, MS, where they lived when Mrs. Hankins passed away on February 24, 1916. They were faithful members of Southside Assembly of God. Bro Hankins continued to live alone until 2021, when his health began to decline and in March he moved to the MS State Veterans Home in Kosciusko, MS.
Bro. Hankins leaves behind two granddaughters, Erica (Nick) Brooks and Kristin Vegh; a great grandson, Keegan Brooks, all from North Scituate, RI; two sisters-in-law, Tommie Hankins of Pascagoula, MS, and Charlene Price of Louisville, MS, along with a host of nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Coleman Hankins; his parents, Rev. and Mrs. Walter Hankins; a daughter, Deborah Vegh; a son, Daniel Hankins; a sister, Virginia Ruth; and a brother, Kendall Hankins.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Mercy House/Teen Challenge, Georgetown, MS, or Southside Assembly of God, 665 Raymond Road, Jackson, MS, 39204.
Pallbearers will be Brad Addkison, Keith Hankins, Noah Hankins, Joel Price, Kevin Price, and Ron Richardson.
