James "Bill" Hansard

James “Bill” Hansard, 85, of Jonesboro passed from this life on Saturday, January 29, 2022 at St. Bernards Medical Center. He was born to the late J.D. and Emma Hansard on May 2, 1936 in Charleston, Arkansas. Bill attended Charleston High School where he played football, basketball, and played trombone in the marching band.  He served as Class President, and was in the Theater Club.  He went to Arkansas State Teacher’s College on a Choir Scholarship and earned a B.S.E. majoring in social science with a minor in library science. Bill received his Master’s at Louisiana State University. After finishing his education, he accepted a position as Librarian at a private school in Memphis, where he also taught Geography and started a choir.  He met his wife in Memphis and together they moved to Jonesboro when he was invited to Arkansas State University as associate librarian and later Head Librarian, serving there for 32 years. Bill was heavily involved with getting the new library and bell tower built at Arkansas State University.

Music played a large part in Bill’s life, having grown up singing in church and later, opera productions, and leading many school and church choirs throughout his life. Bill’s love for music crossed over to his faith as well, he was the choir director at Fisher Street Baptist Church for many years, Highland Drive Baptist Church, and Magnolia Road Church. At the age of nine, Bill began an interest in beekeeping that followed him throughout his life. He also enjoyed vegetable gardening and grafted trees. He grew Christmas Trees in several areas around Jonesboro, and ran a “Pick and Cut your own Tree” sale every Christmas season.

Bill is survived by his wife of 58 years, Ruth Hansard; son, Will Hansard of Jonesboro; daughters, Dr. Sharon Bowman (John) of Jonesboro and Rebecca Hansard of Maine; brother, J.D. Hansard Jr. (Elise) of Roanoke, Virginia; and grandson, Oscar Ives, of Maine.

The visitation will be held from 1:00-2:00 p.m. on Wednesday at Emerson Funeral Home.

A memorial Service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 2, 2022 at Emerson Funeral Home with Johnny Hutchison officiating. Burial will be private and the honorary pallbearers are Al Langlois, James Peachey, Jim Hall, Emil Williams, Charles Gibson, and Mark Underwood.