A former candidate for U.S. Senate Arkansas District 4 seat has passed away
William Hanson passed away on December 29,2022. He was born on February 22, 1954, to Pleas Jr. and Leonia Hanson of Camden, Ark.
He graduated from Stephens High School in 1972, attended the University of Arkansas, and then volunteered for the U.S. Army during the tail end of the Vietnam era. After leaving the armed services, he moved to California and began his public service career.
In 1994, he graduated with a law degree from Columbia University School of Law in New York City. He eventually went from the courtroom to the classroom and taught law and public service through his poplar Law and Democracy program which continues to this day.
In 2018, he returned to his home state of Arkansas and decided to run for U.S. Congress in 2019 because civic engagement and public service were very important to him. He was a strong Voter participation advocate, regardless of party affiliation.Hanson (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Arkansas' 4th Congressional District. He lost in the general election on November 3, 2020.
He was survived by his wife of 37 years, Zaretta Hammond and his two children Morgan Hanson and Zindzi. He was preceded in death by his firstborn son, William H. Hanson, Jr., in 1996. He leaves behind two sisters, Shirley and Sandra; two brothers, Burnett (Pearl) and Lee Morris; and a host of nieces, nephews, other family and friends who loved him deeply.
Service will be held Friday 10:30 a.m. January 6,2023 at Zion Hill Baptist Church in Camden, Ark., by Bishop Chester L. Thompson. Burial will be Good Hope Cemetery in Buena Vista, Ark., by Henson-Holcomb Mortuary.
The Body will lie in state from 9:00 a.m. until funeral time.