Person Page 5,411

Mark Ligon Hankins, Sr., was born on 4 July 1904 in Clover Lick, Pocahontas Co., WV; son of Mark O'Donnahue and Mabel Netherland (Ligon) Hankins. He married Helen Reeves Jarman daughter of Dr. Joseph Leonard Jarman and Mary Helen Wiley, on 17 March 1923; date per 1938 divorce record. Mark Ligon Hankins, Sr., and Helen Reeves Jarman were divorced on 31 January 1938 in Richmond, VA. He died on 12 January 1994 in Lewisburg, Greenbrier Co., WV.

Mark Ligon Hankins, Jr., was born on 30 October 1924 in Virginia. He married Dorothy Mae Overton on 23 April 1949 in Farmville, Prince Edward Co., VA. He and Dorothy Mae Overton were divorced on 27 January 1970 in Chesterfield Co., VA. He married Mary Ellen Rhodes on 28 May 1978 in Midlothian, Chesterfield Co., VA; ceremony by Ray Smith, Pator Emeritus, Bethel Baptist Church. He died on 2 November 2002.

Mark Ligon Hankins, Jr., began military service WW II service, U.S. Navy, Pacific Theatre.

Catherine Lindsay "Kitty" Hankins was born on 15 August 1925 in Farmville, Prince Edward Co., VA. She married Henry Lane Wilson in 1952. She died on 26 May 2008 in Gloucester Co., VA,

She was buried in 2008 in Ware Episcopal Church Cemetery, Gloucester, Gloucester Co., VA, Findagrave #111650188.

Occupation: School teacher.

Carrie Jean Black was born on 16 January 1934. She died on 7 January 2013.

She was buried in January 2013 in Westwood Gardens, Griffin, Spalding Co., GA, Findagrave #188966381.

Sylvia Jean Myers was born on 13 August 1932 in Santa Monica, Los Angeles Co., CA; daughter of Glenn and Josephine F. (Oakes) Myers. She married Jack Townsend Blackmur, Jr., son of Jack Townsend Blackmur and Dorothy Mae Jennings, on 6 March 1982 in San Diego Co., CA; Sylvia was previously married to Walter Schuh in 1949 in San Francisco and divorced in FEB 1973, in San Diego County. She had six children during that marriage, Kenneth, George, John, Michael, Karen, and Katherine. Sylvia Jean Myers died on 18 August 1991.

Elizabeth Jarman "Betsy" Hankins was born on 21 September 1930 in Farmville, Prince Edward Co., VA. She married James Wilder "Kimo" McVay on 11 February 1956 in St. James Episcopal Church, Richmond, VA. She died on 13 December 2003 in 'Ewa Beach, Honolulu Co., HI.

She was buried in December 2003 in O'ahu Cemetery, Honolulu Co., HI, Findagrave #189469269.

Occupation: School teacher, English and Drama.

James Wilder "Kimo" McVay was born on 16 September 1927 in Washington, D.C.; son of RAdm. Charles Butler and Elizabeth Kina'u (Wilder) McVay, III of Hampton, VA. He married Elizabeth Jarman "Betsy" Hankins daughter of Mark Ligon Hankins, Sr., and Helen Reeves Jarman, on 11 February 1956 in St. James Episcopal Church, Richmond, VA. James Wilder "Kimo" McVay died on 29 June 2001 in Honolulu, Honolulu Co., HI,

Obituary -- (Findagrave.com):

Kimo McVay was a musician turned talent manager, who successfully promoted Hawaiian entertainment acts. McVay promoted and managed acts such as teenage heart throb Robin Luke, Don Ho, John Rowles, comic Andy Bumatai, Keolo and Kapono Beamer, ventriloquist Freddie Morris, magician John Hirokawa and many others.

He was the son of the late Kinau Wilder, a grand dame of Island theater and a prominent figure in Island society, and the controversial Capt. Charles Butler McVay III, who was the commanding officer in 1945 when the USS Indianapolis was struck by a Japanese torpedo, causing the ship to sink about 600 miles southwest of Guam after ferrying an atomic bomb to the Pacific island of Tinian. Only 316 of the Indy's crew of 1,196 survived in shark-infested waters and Capt. McVay was found guilty of negligence, ultimately committing suicide.

Kimo McVay's life-long efforts to clear the name of his father finally happened last year, when the commander was cleared of guilt through congressional action, 55 years after the incident.

"It doesn't really change history, but it certainly will let the world know that my father was innocent and will give some comfort to the survivors themselves," McVay said after the exoneration.

Two weeks after Kimo died, the Navy finally exonerated his father, who had been court-martialed. A directive from Navy Secretary Gordon England ordered that a document exonerating the elder McVay to be placed in his file, said Cmdr. Greg Smith, director of the Navy's media operations in Washington.

"Now Kimo can rest in peace," said Betsy McVay, Kimo McVay's widow.

He was cremated.

Occupation: Entertainment manager and producer.