Paula Wicker Hamby, CHS 63, has been a teacher in Lauderdale County Schools and with Tennessee Technology Center of Ripley for more than 20 years. At Tennessee Technology she was project coordinator/grant writer for a federal family literacy program for adults and their children from birth to age 8. The Even Start Family Literacy Program, one of 24 projects in Tennessee, began in 1993 with Paula and continued until June 2001.
The goal of the program was for adults to improve basic math reading skills leading to passing the GED and to better the family in employment and family life coping skills. Children of these parents were prepared to enter school and improve reading skills once there.

Paula partnered with the New Beginnings Christian Center of Ripley in establishing the first state funded at risk program with certified teachers for children 3-4 years old. Paula now spends her time as Site Supervisor for the Fam! ily Resource Center of Ripley Primary School, managing an after school tutor program.Paula and husband Jim, with 35 years of experience in the auto industry are the parents of Morris who is a professional pianist and teacher. Morris and Melissa, an industrial psychologist with Bridgestone/Firestone live in Murfreesboro.
As the "church lady" you can find Paula riding the circuit on Sundays with Fr. Don to serve as organist at Immanuel Episcopal Church, Ripley, TN and Christ Church, Brownsville, TN.Jim, is a Lay Eucharistic Minister at Immanuel. In her spare time, Paula maintains an e-mail prayer list as President of the Order of the Daughters of the King in the Episcopal Diocese of West Tennessee.

update 4/2/07
Dear Ones:

I thought you might like to see these family pictures since you have become part of our family too through your love and prayers for us since Dec. 2006 when James Marshall Hamby was born. I am so grateful, and we can feel your prayers...peaceful hearts for the Hambys! James now weighs 3 pounds, 10 oz.

James is getting accustomed to room air and is on a CPAP (for apnea) and and a different oxygen combo machine, which means he does not have to wear the confining head gear of the CPAP machine. He is very strong and is already raising his head for several seconds and touching both hands together. Not bad for a micro preemie! He uses his hand to hold his pacifier, but then fusses when he loses it! I was able to touch his sweet little head for the first time when we were visiting a couple of weeks ago.

The miracle of James, born at 22.5 weeks at 1 lb., 3 oz., continues. He is now 35.5 gestational weeks...due date is May 1! The beauty of Spring and the hope of the Resurrection on Easter have a special meaning for the Hamby family. We are experiencing Resurrection each day we are allowed to see our Sweet Baby James grow stronger! Thanks be to God!

For His Sake...sending love and prayers to all of you dear friends in Christ. May the Peace of the Lord always be with you!

Paula Hamby

Dec 2011
I know I am late in sending you the promised picture and update on grandson James Marshall Hamby. We had a very sad situation...Melissa was expecting again, and John Daniel Hamby came at 14 weeks and of course did not make it. We are recovering, but it was very hard.

We all recognize the extreme blessing of having our James and love him so much. I have spent a lot of time with Morris, Melissa and James during her high risk pregnancy.

James is in preschool Special Ed and also goes to a center called Special Kids for extra therapy. He cannot walk yet but is making much progress, for which we are so grateful. Because he is so heavy 42 pounds now at five years old. ALL of our backs are aching, but he's worth it!!!

He laughs and has great receptive language (understands everything you say to him). His expressive language is not so good, but he has a phrase or two for everthing and can twist us all around his finger quite easily!!!

Melissa and Morris are amazing parents and take such tireless good care of him. He's still a patient of the brilliant doctors (14 of them) at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital in Nashville, TN. Through the years, I have been with them to many doctor's appointments, and I cannot explain how wonderful and caring they all have been.

Join me in giving thanks to God for the gift of James!!!


Paula