MERIDIAN —     Services for Benjamin “Ben” Samuel Hammond IV will be held Saturday, at 11 a.m., at Coker’s Chapel United Methodist Church with Rev. Davey Wilkinson and Rev. David Keller officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery with Robert Barham Family Funeral Home in charge of the arrangements.

    Ben, 13, of the Vimville Community, died Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013, in Lauderdale County. He was an 8th grade student at Southeast Middle School and was a member of Coker’s Chapel United Methodist Church. Ben was loved by all who knew him and leaves a legacy of human kindness and joyfulness. He enjoyed the outdoors and spending time hunting, fishing, boating, four-wheeling, playing baseball and football, and attending MSU football games with his Mimi and Papaw Jim. One of his greatest loves was working around the farm with his Daddy and Papaw Sam. Ben just loved life.

    Ben is survived by his parents, B. S. “Benji” and Danyel Campbell Hammond III; a sister, Peytyn Hammond; his grandparents, B. S. “Sam” Hammond II, all of Meridian, and Freda Hammond and Larry Park of Atlanta, Ga., Jim and Pat Campbell of Prattville, Ala., great-grandmother, Lena Linton, of Meridian, great-grandfather Roger Caris and great-grandmother Mary Caris, of Hastings, Mich., great-grandparents, Paul and Shirley Waldron, of Carson City, Mich.; two uncles: Trey (Emily) Campbell of Richmond Hills, Ga., and Eric (Madison) Campbell of Meridian; his best friends: Cody Bean, Luke Sciple, Zack Sciple, Ben McGraw, Grey Harper; his dog, Sassy; and, many extended family members and friends.

    Ben was preceded in death by his great-grandparents: B. S. “Ben” and Wilma Hammond I, James Felix Linton, and James F. and Georgia Campbell.

    Pallbearers will be Trey Campbell, Eric Campbell, Jeff Linton, Anthony Linton, Brian Harper, Jason “Poohbear” Ortego, Jason Bean, and Chad Sciple.

    Honorary pallbearers will be the Southeast Jr. High Baseball Team.

    In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Coker’s Chapel UMC, 3042 Jeff Davis School Rd., Meridian, MS.

    Friends and family may sign the online guest book at robertbarhamffh.com.

     Visitation will be today, from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m., at the funeral home.