James Clinton Hanchey died on Tuesday Apr. 11, 2023 at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital.
He was born Jan. 10, 1936 in DeQuincy, where his father was principal of the high school. He attended schools in Calcasieu Parish and graduated in 1954 from Lake Charles High School.
He worked in Lake Charles as law clerk to Judge John T. Hood, Jr. of the Court of Appeal, Third Circuit.
Following his clerkship, he joined the law firm of Jones, Kimball, Harper, Tete and Wetherill as an associate. He became a partner in the firm of Jones, Tete, Nolen, Hanchey, Swift and Spears. He practiced law with the firm for 40 years.
He was president of the Southwest Louisiana Bar Association and was a member of the bar of the US District Courts for the Western and Eastern Districts of Louisiana, the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and the US Supreme Court where he was administered the oath of membership by Chief Justice Earl Warren.
He was involved in many civic and cultural activities and organizations. He was a member of the YMBC, the Calcasieu Kiwanis Club and he served on the board of directors and vice president of The Lake Charles Symphony; the board of Art Associates; the board of the Cancer Society; the board, and as president of the Southwest Louisiana Arts and Humanities Council; and the board, and as president of the Arcade Theater Foundation. He served on the art grants panels of the City of Lake Charles and the Louisiana State Arts Council.
He is survived by his wife, Nancy Ligon Hanchey; children, Kellie Medford (Fleet) of Atlanta, Ga., Erin Shackelford (Hugh) of Memphis, Tenn., and Dr. Max Hendrix of Greensboro, N. C.; six grandchildren; and one brother, Ben Richard Hanchey of Monroe.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Clint and Alice Pearl Hanchey; and one brother.
A graveside service for family and close friends celebrating his life was held on Monday, Apr. 17 at Prien Memorial Park under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home of Lake Charles.
