Mormons of Harkers Island, About the Author

Strengthened by the Storm: The Early Mormons of Harkers Island, NC, by Joel G. Hancock.

About the Author:

Joel G. Hancock (b. 1952) is a life-long resident of Harkers Island and a literal descendant of many of those whose story is told in Strengthened by the Storm. He is the seventh son and tenth child of the late Charlie and Margarette Hancock, both of whose parents migrated to Harkers Island from Diamond City on Shackleford Banks just prior to the turn of the 20th century.

He received his B.A. (1974) and M.A. (1975) degrees in History at East Carolina University in Greenville, NC. After several years as a teacher, tax collector, mobile home sales manager, and computer system administrator, he found a home in 1992 as an agent with Farm Bureau Insurance and has been with them ever since.

Raised as a fourth generation Latter-day Saint, he has served in leadership positions since being called as a counselor in the Presidency of the Greenville Branch in 1974. He served as Bishop of the Harkers Island Ward from 1985 to 1990, and was called as a Counselor in the Presidency of the Kinston, NC Stake in 1991. After serving for nine years in that position, he was called to be President in 2000 and continues in that capacity today.

He is married to the former Susan Leggett of Greenville, and they are the parents of six children and thirteen grandchildren; Emily (and Kevin Nelson) have three, Joella (and James Morris) have four, Alyson (and Kyle Dart) have three, and Leah (and Rodney Steelman) have three. His son, Joel Jr, served an LDS mission to Brazil and was married (to Lauren Sechler) earlier this year. Their youngest son, Mike, served as a missionary to Thailand and is attending Brigham Young University in Provo, UT.

 

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