Mr. William "Pete" Dennis Hammond, 85, of Florence, died Friday, July 11, 2008. Visitation was held 6-9 p.m. Sunday, July 13, 2008, and from 11 a.m. to service time Monday at Spry Serenity Chapel, of Florence. The service was at 1 p.m. Monday, July 14, 2008, in the funeral home chapel, with Brother Steve McAlister and Dr. Tom Phillips officiating. Interment followed at Grassy Memorial Cemetery, in Lexington.

He was a member of Grace Life Baptist (formerly First Baptist) of Muscle Shoals. He also served in the Army during World War II. He was the founder and owner of Compass Communications.

Mr. Hammond owned such great Tennessee Walking Horses as RPM, Out On Parole, The Stonecutter, Busting With Terror and Fantastic Gold.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Virginia Hammond; parents, Oscar and Mary Bell Hammond; brothers, Alton and Glen Hammond; sisters, Mildred Newborn and Verta Newborn.

He is survived by his wife, Frances N. Hammond; children, Carolyn H. Huffman and husband, Ed, Kecia Newton and Lynn Newton; sister, Oscarine Hammond Newton; grandchildren, Jeff Baggett and Jennifer Berry; stepgrandson, Russ Huffman; great-grandchildren, Kimberly, Brooks and Mary Makensie;two stepgreat-grandchildren, James and Jessica; great-great-grandchild, Aedyn.

Pallbearers included Charlie Berry, Lynn Newton, John Embry, Mark Johnson, Keith, Mark and Randy Hammond and Phillip Robbins.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The American Cancer Society, 104 S. Poplar St., Florence, AL 35630, Grace Life Missions Fund, Grassy Memorial Fund or the Jerusalem Project New Beginning Church.