Allen Ray Hinnant

Allen Ray Hinnant, age 76, passed away on Thursday, October 19, 2023. Born in 1947 to parents Woodrow and Ruth Hinnant, Allen grew up in Spring Hope, NC and graduated from Spring Hope High School. He joined the army in 1966 and worked as a Nike Missile Internal Guidance Technician during the Vietnam War serving in New Jersey, Germany, and Okinawa, Japan. After military service, he returned to the states and attended NC State University graduating with a degree in economics. In 1971 he married Wilma Vick, and they settled in Rocky Mount. It was here that he began a 34-year banking career with Planters, People’s, Centura, and RBC. He specialized in risk management and served on many prestigious boards and committees such as Risk Management Associates (RMA) of Eastern NC, the Carolinas, and Virginia. He also served on a special Agricultural Risk Committee as a representative of small US banks alongside the chief agriculture risk officer of the Bank of America. He was awarded a diploma from the National Commercial Lending Graduate School at the University of Oklahoma in 1985 and finished at the top of his class. Allen was very involved in his community’s not-for-profit activities. He was an assistant scout master for troop 108 for five years. He served as chair of the Rocky Mount Heart Association in 1981 and received the award for most improved fund raising for N.C. He started the Chase of Champions Road Race which became known as the most competitive in Eastern NC. He served as director and through his 10-year stint, helped to raise $75,000 to support the Adaptive Swim Program at the YMCA. In addition, he was a 10-year board member of the YMCA and chairman of the board the year that fund raising began. He served as board member and president of the Rocky Mount Kiwanis Club for many years. In 1989, he received a certificate of appreciation from Governor James Martin for volunteer services in NC. He was former director and treasurer of Friends of the Arts Center as well. In 1996, he was nominated to carry the Olympic torch in Raleigh where he lit the cauldron. This was a proud moment for him. For many years, Allen was an avid runner and part of a group called the Nooners which consisted of several business people who met each day at the YMCA and ran during their lunch hour. Along with the group, he trained, ran, and finished the New York Marathon in 1989. Allen had a great passion and talent for photography. What started as a hobby while stationed in Okinawa developed into a second career. He was known for his beautiful portrait and landscape photography and was a member of the Professional Photographers Association. Left to cherish Allen’s memory are his loving wife of 52 years, Wilma Kay and her family and his sister, Gloria; his nieces and nephews, his church family at First Baptist Church, and a multitude of friends and colleagues. The family would like to give special thanks to Dr. Doug Boyette and the staff of UNC Nash Hospice and Palliative Care, the staff at Talbot Cancer Center, and all those who called with an encouraging word. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, October 22 at First Baptist Church in Rocky Mount. Visitation will begin at 2:00 followed by service at 3:00. In lieu of flowers, please make donation to First Baptist Church in honor of Allen or give to a needy individual as Allen would have done.

Tributes

Allen Ray Hinnant

May 26, 1947 - October 19, 2023