Willie "Irene" Hamby, 84, of Calhoun, Tn., died Saturday, Jan. 22, 2011 in an Athens health care facility.
She retired from Charleston Hosiery after 35 years of service. She was a member of Hiawassee Baptist Church, but attended Clear Springs Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur T. Hamby; parents, William and Nealie Burris Shamblin; infant daughter, Pamela Hamby; and brother, Hershel Shamblin.
She is survived by her son, Arthur E. "Gene" Hamby and wife, Glennis of Calhoun; two grandchildren, April Hamby and friend Fred Booker and Travis Hamby and wife Amanda, all of Calhoun; three great-grandchildren, Kaylynn Hamby, Wynter Hamby and Phillip Hamby, all of Calhoun; and one sister, Theda Womac of Etowah.
Funeral services will be conducted on Tuesday, Jan. 25, at 2 p.m. in the chapel of Ralph Buckner Funeral Home with Pastor Frank Redman and Pastor Stanley Liner officiating. Interment will follow in Calhoun Cemetery with James Blassingame, Gary Stafford, Paul David Doss, Bobby Doss, David Shamblin and Butch Blassingame serving as pallbearers. A white dove release ceremony will conclude the service.