Around Foreman Memorial Baptist Church in New Ellenton, Arthur J. "Art" Hanna wasn't just a member. He was a rock.
"He was one of those quiet people who did everything around the church," said Wendy Grigsby, the church's ministry assistant, who knew Hanna about 35 years. "He was the perfect church member. He was a giant to me."
Hanna, who was mayor of New Ellenton from 1992 to 1996 and worked on Aiken County Public Schools Advisory Boards for more than 25 years, died Tuesday at his residence.
His funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Foreman Memorial Baptist Church.
Hanna was known for his dedication to his church and the care he took to maintain its buildings and particularly the grounds.
"The grounds were so well cared for, and everything was up to his standard," Grigsby said. "You wouldn't know that just one person did it. You'd think it was a whole crew."
His attention to detail extended beyond the churchyard.
"When he was the mayor, he planted flowers at both ends of town, and his yard was always immaculate," Grigsby said. "He was a fine human being."
In addition to his church work, Hanna was a member of Gideon's International Aiken County East Camp, which is dedicated to Bible distribution and evangelism.
"He was a great spiritual man and a great public servant," said Levi Green, vice chairman of the Aiken County Board of Education, who served with Hanna on the original Area 5 Advisory Council for the Aiken County Public School District when it was established in the late 1970s.
Hanna, who previously served on the Area 1 council, was the first chairman for the Area 5 council and was a member until 2000.
Green said he and Hanna shared the same view of discipline in county schools.
"He was a strong disciplinarian," Green said. "We believed that discipline keeps the schools clear of problems so that teachers can actually teach their students instead of dealing with their acting up."
Green said Hanna's public service impacted the community.
"He worked across party and ethnic lines and had a great relationship with people of all colors," Green said. "If you met Art, you had a friend, I'm going to tell you. He was a great man."
An Aiken native, Larry Wood is a general assignment reporter. He joined the Aiken Standard in September 2014.