Mid-Atlantic Tour

Please join us for our mid-Atlantic tour which starts tonight in Marriottsville, Maryland. We have a new record and many new songs to share with you. And I will be honoring my Dad and all that he did to inspire me to find my calling.

07/30, Marriottsville, MD, Soup & Song
08/01, Fredericksburg, VA, Music on the Steps at the Library
8/03, Hanover, VA, The Hanover Tavern Viriginia Heritage Music Series
8/06, Kennett Square, PA, Private House Concert
8/14, Arlington, VA, Private House Concert
8/15, Richmond, VA, Private Event
8/19, Jonesborough, TN, Music on the Square
8/21, Johnson City, TN, Bluegrass & Bayou, Saint John's Episcopal Church

Nothing Lasts Forever, Except Our Song

The week before Dad passed away, I was working on a love song – part of a songwriting challenge I've set for myself over the last month. Though it's still a love song, a lot of Dad ended up in this song. He was my best friend. Everyone can download this song and story, no need to be a member of the fan club.

"I'm glad I have a heart, though now it's broken.

I hope another door will open.

Until then, I'll be strong."

https://www.patreon.com/posts/nothing-lasts-6160659

Thanks to the Pilot Newspaper. Dad loved being a newspaperman.

The Heartbeat of This Community:’ Seven Lakes Residents Mourn Loss of Newspaper Publisher

Mary Kate Murphy, Staff Writer

In his 20-year ownership of the Seven Lakes Times, Greg Hankins’ formal titles of editor and publisher were only the tip of the iceberg.

The death Sunday of the newspaper’s proprietor — and lead reporter, ad salesman and delivery man — leaves a void in the Seven Lakes community that those who knew Hankins suspect may never be filled.

“He was just a great guy who’s going to be sorely missed in the Seven Lakes community,” said John Whelan, owner of Whelan Realty. “People for the last three months have been wondering if we’re ever going to have the Seven Lakes Times again.”

In April, Hankins and his wife Marcy — his high school sweetheart and right hand in the myriad tasks, from photography to proofreading, involved in producing the biweekly paper — suspended publication while he received treatment for acute myeloid leukemia at Duke University Hospital.

He died at his home on Sunday at the age of 59.

Seven Lakes business owners and civic leaders have commended the Hankinses’ dedication to covering the gamut of local happenings: Kiwanis pancake sales, Easter egg hunts, homeowners’ meetings and county government. Over the years, the couple became as much a part of the Seven Lakes landscape as the water features from which it takes its name.

“You’d see them walking quietly through the crowd, getting information, taking photographs, getting names,” said Pat Weber of the Women of Seven Lakes. “We miss his overalls, we miss his hat, we miss his smile, we miss his beard, we miss everything there is about Greg Hankins.”

Nick Picerno, chairman of the Moore County Board of Commissioners, appreciated the even-handed approach to journalism that was Hankins’ trademark.

“I knew that politically we were not on the same page; he was one one side and I was sort of on the other, but I trusted Greg,” he said. “I’d always enjoyed reading the Seven Lakes Times because it always seemed to have a lot of factual knowledge. You didn’t see a lot of spin.”

Hankins bought the Seven Lakes Times from Ruth Sullivan in the late 1990s after moving to Mount Gilead a few years earlier to run the Montgomery Herald with his father. Though he studied religion in college and even earned a master’s degree in divinity at Harvard University, the native of Virginia coal-mining country followed family tradition to spend his entire career in news.

“He just really enjoyed going by and seeing his dad as a kid,” said Marcy Hankins.

During summer breaks in high school and college, Hankins fell into the fold writing for one of his father’s newspapers in New Mexico, where he won awards for feature writing and photography. After stints at television stations in Nebraska and Tennessee, Hankins moved to North Carolina and returned to print news.

“He just had a very big interest in newspapers from the beginning,” said Marcy. “We basically moved around so he could work. He’d always been really great with marketing and numbers and helping people understand what their markets were about.

“We just really enjoyed being part of Seven Lakes — it was kind of like we melded together.”

Stepping in at the Seven Lakes Times, where he changed the publication schedule from monthly to every other week, was Hankins’ first experience as a publisher in his own right. The paper was essentially a two-man show, with Hankins and Marcy enlisting only part-time help and regularly putting in 60- and 70-hour weeks. To fulfill Hankins’ commitment to accuracy and fairness, nothing less was possible.

Ellen Marcus, who began writing for Hankins in 2012, learned quickly that there was no room for sensation or opinion in the Seven Lakes Times.

“He would tell me to go write for a magazine,” was Marcus’ affectionate recollection. “He was one of the most intelligent, hardworking, unbiased people I have ever known. He didn’t run any national news at all. He said that with a local paper we had the opportunity to make a difference. And he did that.”

On the rare occasion Hankins could not personally attend a county or school board meeting, he would dispatch Marcy to tape it in full and take notes. He had no qualms about calling officials to clarify statements before printing them.

“He felt it was very important that people were informed of what was going on the meetings,” Marcy said. “He reported both sides of the story so that people would know what they had to make a decision on.”

Over 20 years of controversies like dam closures and the fate of land abutting a popular putting green, Hankins issued a sole editorial opinion during his tenure in Seven Lakes: in favor of lifeguards at the Seven Lakes North swimming pool to enhance the safety of children and elderly adults.

Hankins disdained ambulance-chasing, deferring to victims’ families before publishing coverage of tragic accidents and printing obituaries free of charge.

“I have so much respect for him; he was a man of integrity,” said Marcus. “I’ve never worked with anyone like him before; he was encouraging, he was honest, he just was a funny guy.”

Their differences of opinion aside, Picerno frequently conferred with Hankins as someone in touch with a large number of Moore County residents.

“We could sit down and have a good conversation and lay everything on that table and have some good ideas come of that,” he said. “Sometimes you need someone that you trust to be honest with you, and Greg was that kind of guy.”

Marcy is unsure of the fate of the Seven Lakes Times, but for now the institution will be missed almost as sorely as the man behind it. Hankins made the rounds every other Thursday, delivering to newsstands as well as the post office for Friday mailbox delivery.

“Whenever he delivered the paper he would always be here laughing and chatting about what was going on in the community,” Whelan said.

Hankins also harbored an interest in vintage technology and owned an antique printing press. His country roots left him with a love of nature manifested as he picked blackberries for homemade jam, raised chickens and grew vegetables. To unwind, he would pick up a banjo or accordion.

Despite his antiquarian pursuits, the avid follower of the New York Times and National Public Radio was never caught off-guard when it came to current events.

That love of information extended to Seven Lakes residents, who the Hankinses kept well-informed through a bookstore they ran in the Seven Lakes Business Village.

“We feel like we’ve lost a member of our family,” said Weber. “We discovered once the paper stopped that they were truly the heartbeat of this community. We’re all kind of lost without the paper and without them.”

The women’s group has established a fund to help Hankins’ family with medical costs, which will continue to accept contributions in his memory. Donations can be sent to the Women of Seven Lakes at 850 Seven Lakes North, Seven Lakes, NC 27376 with checks payable to the Women of Seven Lakes Hankins Account.

Contact Mary Kate Murphy at (910) 693-2479 or mkmurphy@thepilot.com.

Greg Hankins, my Dad

I will always be reading the book of you. Always singing the tune of you. Always walking the path of you. I will see you every day when I look in the mirror and when I look at my heart. Goodnight, my father, it's me, goodnight. Shanti shanti shanti. Amen. All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.

A piece of a song I wrote for you:

"I'm glad I have a heart, though now it's broken.
I hope another door will open.
Until then, I'll be strong.

Goodbye to the me I know beside you.
I hope that love will find you
And you won't wait too long.

Nothing lasts forever except our song.
Nothing lasts forever except our song."

Thank you to all of my friends who have been so supportive and who offered up prayers and thoughts for Dad over this last year and longer. I'm sorry that not all of you knew that he was sick. He was very private and never lost his sense of hope. He was trying to make friends with the EMS people and talking a blue streak until the very last moment. Our bodies are so fragile even when our minds are so strong and willing.

I love you, Dad. Call me on the banana phone sometimes.

Stephen Gregory “Greg” Hankins, 59, of Mount Gilead, died Sunday, July 24, 2016.

He died from complications from Myelodysplastic Syndrome and Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) at his home.

He was a native of Richlands and Jewell Ridge, Va.

Mr. Hankins was a graduate of Richlands High School and the valedictorian of the Class of 1975. He attended Davidson College, Davidson, and graduated cum laude in 1979, with bachelor’s degree with honors in religion. Mr. Hankins earned a master’s in divinity degree at Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass., in 1982.

He had worked as a consultant for Butterfield Communications in Belmont, Mass., under David Butterfield. In 1986, he and his family moved to Las Cruces, N.M., and he worked with his father and brother in a start-up newspaper venture.

The family moved to Omaha, Neb., in 1987 where he worked for Pappas Telecasting as the marketing director and in sales support at Channel 42 KPTM television.

Starting in 1988, Mr. Hankins worked for WTVF Channel 5 Television station in Nashville, Tenn., as the marketing director under General Manager Tom Erwin and eventually for Lemuel E. Lewis of Landmark Communications Inc. He served in this position for seven years.

In 1995, he and his family moved to Mount Gilead to pursue his dream career in the newspaper business, in the beginning working with his father and brother for two years at the Montgomery Herald, Troy, and eventually becoming the editor and publisher of The Seven Lakes Times of Seven Lakes. He did this for more than 20 years with his wife, Marcella (Marcy) Hankins.

He was preceded in death by his father, Robert Guy Hankins; maternal grandparents, Avery and Narcie Smith; and paternal grandparents, Sutherland and Georgia Hankins.

Mr. Hankins is survived by his wife, Marcella Hankins; daughters, Jennifer (Jeni) A. Hankins, of Nashville, Tenn., Sarah E. Hankins, of Greensboro; his mother, Ann Smith Hankins Shreve, of Jewell Ridge, Va.; brother Thomas G. Hankins, and his wife, Crystal, of Candor; half-sister, Stephanie Grayson Pierce, and her husband, Joshua, of Mooresville; his nieces and nephews; and his faithful cat, Olivia.

At Mr. Hankins’ request there will be no local service or memorial held.

In lieu of flowers, donations to defray medical costs may be made to: The Women of Seven Lakes, Hankins Account, 850 Seven Lakes North, Seven Lakes, NC 27376.

Arrangements provided by Pugh Funeral Home of Troy.

Friends across the sea

Today, I'm thinking about how much I miss my friend Annie who lives in the Lakes in England. And I miss a reason to wear Wellies, the dance of drying the wash in the rain, summer that feels like blustery March, and the balm of a cup of tea. Here's to tea and friends across the sea!

Sisterhood of the traveling house

For the last five days, my sister and I have been packing up her things for her move in town, and I am happy to say that we have developed a sense of humor since we took this photo. As children who moved to Appalachia every summer and who have moved all over the USA with our parents and then in our adult lives, we are very adept at packing. The key is for me to have Skittles available and for my sister to have gin & tonic. This is the core of our sisterhood.

Shadow Tattoo

Ukulele Hula Boy Shadow Tattoo.

Choices

Obviously, if given the choice between pink cotton candy and blue cotton candy, the answer is both, especially if it's raining.

Dad

Thank you for all of the wonderful wishes for my Dad and our family. I realize that a lot of you didn't know that he is ill and that's because it was difficult for me to tell everyone. But this is a wonderful article about my parents for those of you who would like to learn more. I know my Dad has a lot of fans in my friends because he is such a champion of our music and folk music in general. And that makes him glad! Sending hugs back out there to you all.

http://www.thepilot.com/news/seven-lakes-residents-pull-together-for-local-publisher/article_8c1f9c76-3ed9-11e6-9d66-13c344b6a984.html

Hazel

Do I miss my friend Hazel? A million times yes! Sending love to our friends on that more-ish island across the Atlantic.

Welcome home, Dad!

After 70 days in the hospital, my Dad got to come home last night! He went in before I flew to Britain and was still there when I got back last week. Mom and Sarah have been incredibly strong caretakers and Dad has been incredible never losing his sense of humor though it was sorely tried. Dad's bone marrow transplant will happen when the doctors feel he's regained his strength for a process that will mean several more months in the hospital. I'm just thankful that I was home to see him walk through our farmhouse door and sit with his cats.

Thanks to everyone who has sent me a note of encouragement or given me big hug over the last few months. It was very strange to be an ocean away during this time, but my family wouldn't hear of me missing out on a tour in a country I love so much. Can't wait to just sit in the living room and chat with my Dad today, hang out in the sewing room with my Mom, and crack up at everything my brilliant sister says.

Stitch of light

I

A memory of one of the best cities in the world. Window at W.Stitch & Company, Berwick Street, London -- a place straight out of Dickens and where Mr. Stitch played his part to a T.

Twin across the sea

 

You know what's fun? Having a twin in another country. This is my friend Philippa from York. Once I was in the loo when the audience started to stream in for the show and Philippa was minding my little merch shop. Lots of people thought she was me and hugged her as they said how much they were looking forward to hearing her sing again!

Picnic time

It's an honor to be part of Herb and Bev's family reunion and church picnic every year! 

Mending

If only we had such magical mending services in the USA, we could employ them to patch our hearts. We will miss our British friends so much. Big Ben sized thanks to you all for making this our best tour yet! Here we go! 

Ducky Day

Join us tonight at the Conwy Folk Club for our last concert of our 2016 tour in Britain!! It will be ducky celebrating our Independence Day in Wales for the six the year! Doors 8, concert at 8:30. 5 pound cover.

Last Yorkshire concert for 2016...

Join us tonight for our last 2016 concert in Yorkshire! Woodend Gallery in Scarborough, Doors 7:00, Concert 7:30.