Paul “Sonny” Pierce Hancock, Jr., also known as Dede, passed away at home in Trussville on Sunday, May 8, 2022, at 89 years and 9 1/2 months old (and he wanted you to know that!)
Paul Pierce Hancock, Jr.
Sonny was born in Birmingham, Alabama, on July 29, 1932. He attended Hewitt High School, where he met his wife, Bobbie Elveree “Rickie” Hambrice. He attended Auburn University and recruited 15 years for Auburn University football. He was a lifelong Auburn fan.
He was a master builder – an innovative problem solver who took risks and wasn’t afraid to try something new to get difficult problems solved. He said, “Make sure you’re right, then go ahead.”
Sonny started Hancock Scaffolds and Hancock Contracting Company. He had an enormous capacity to work hard and expected those he hired to work hard alongside him. Many young men learned the value of hard work on the job site of Sonny Hancock. A blister was a badge of honor.
He did civil, commercial, residential, and industrial construction and had a varied portfolio: he built churches; made lakes; made roads and sewer systems; created movable bleachers for events; placed scaffolding around the outside of the Alabama State Capitol and Vulcan, as well as inside cathedrals and power plant boilers. His was a turnkey company, rarely utilizing subcontractors. That was his capstone. He had an engineering mind that wrote his notes on anything he could find – napkins, scraps of paper, and even the headliner of the truck.
He was funny and loved for people to laugh with him. He loved to dance, work hard, and play hard.
His love for Jesus was real. There is no telling how many people have met Jesus because of the hospitality he and Rickie extended to the high schoolers of Birmingham during the revival of the 1970s.
Sonny was preceded in death by his parents, Paul Hancock, Sr., and Hazel Hoskins Hancock; brother, William “Bill” Hancock; and daughter, Kathy Leigh Hancock.
He is survived by his wife and best friend, Rickie;
sister, Janyce Townley; son, Paul Hancock III “Trey” (Becky):
Ashleigh (Vesa) Mättö – Rebecca, William, Elisabeth; Grace (Luke) Halford – Anna Claire, Hudson, Jane, Bo; Paul Hancock IV (Rebekah) – WinnLeigh, Vivian, Paul V “Huck”; daughter, Kim Hancock Swafford (Dale): Daniel (Brigette) – Ridge, Reese, Raegan; Benjamin (Holly) – Johnny, Joe; granddaughter, Sunnie Leigh (Kasey) Graydon – Pierce, Suede, Sadie Kate, Knox; son, Jon Britton “Britt” Hancock (Audrey): Hannah (Ben) Johnson – Hadassah, Samuel, Ariella, Talia; Aspen (John) Marshall; Jacob (Cassie) Hancock – Micah, Havilah; David (Jasmine) Hancock; nieces, nephews, and more great-grandchildren to come.
He will be greatly missed by family and friends but most of all by his forever sweetheart, Rickie. They would have completed 69 years of marriage on June 27, 2022.
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