Resolution honoring Pearl Hamby passed by Mercer County Commission
PRINCETON – A woman who contributed to her community on the local, state and national levels was honored this week when the Mercer County Commission passed a resolution recognizing her many achievements and dedication.
"Although she was barely more than 5-feet tall, the late Pearl Hamby was a giant in the areas of public, family, community and national service," County Commission President Bill Archer said when he read the resolution into the official record. "
Hamby, known to many people as Ms. Pearl, was born in Fayette County and was raised in the Lovern community of Mercer County, but she was a home in both West Virginia and Virginia, Archer said.
"With a smile on her face, Pearl had a knack for making complex matters seem easy to address, and difficult problems disappear with a single smile from her beautiful face," Archer said.
Hamby was an active member of the Mercer County Chapter of the NAACP along with many other civic organizations. She joined the staff of the West Virginia University Extension Agency around 30 years ago as a Green Thumb Worker. She later joined the WVU Extension Agency's Board of Directors and served for many years in that role until her passing, according to the resolution.
"During that time, she developed close ties with Brenda Pruett and other WVU Extension Office personnel as well as the hundreds if not thousands of peoples' lives she served during her tenure," Archer said.
Hamby became close friends with the extension agency's local staff as well as Magistrate Judge Omar Aboulhosn and his family.
"Ms. Pearl never met a stranger and greeted everyone she ever met with a smile as broad as the Northern Lights and sincere as a newborn child," according to the resolution.
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