Timothy William Hamby, 61, of Ponte Vedra, Florida, passed away on December 18, 2025, when his Lord and Savior called him home after a long battle against cancer.

Tim was born on May 1, 1964, in Jacksonville, Florida, a third-generation Jacksonville native, to Clayton Belk Hamby and Sandra McKnight Panitz. He grew up in Orange Park, Florida, and carried with him a deep appreciation for his roots and community throughout his life.

In May of 1995, Tim married the love of his life and best friend, Gretchen Elizabeth Chapman. Together they built a beautiful life centered on faith, family, adventure and love. Tim was a devoted husband and the very best “girl dad” to their daughters, Kendall and Kaelyn (affectionately named the Special K’s). He cherished time with his girls and was immensely proud of them, not only for their accomplishments, but for the kindness and heart for others that defined them.

Tim also placed great value on friendship and was deeply loyal to those he called friends. He formed lasting relationships throughout his life, many of which spanned decades, and he invested in them with the same thoughtfulness, humor, and quiet presence that defined him. Tim was a trusted confidant, a steady encourager, and someone who showed up consistently for the people he cared about.

Tim began his college career at the University of Florida and completed his degree in Political Science at the University of Central Florida, where he met Gretchen. Before finishing college, Tim explored creative pursuits in modeling and acting in Miami and New York, landing several notable opportunities, and later opened a resort wear boutique in Sawgrass Village in Ponte Vedra Beach. Ultimately, he returned to college, feeling called to complete his degree and begin what would become a remarkable professional career.

After college, Tim and Gretchen returned to his hometown of Jacksonville and began his career in marketing, where his creative talent and entrepreneurial spirit flourished. He founded Renaissance Creative Services, growing it into a nationally recognized firm. As CEO, Creative Director, Copywriter, and Lead Marketing Strategist, Tim led with vision, humility, and heart. Under his leadership, RCS won numerous national marketing awards and was named one of Northeast Florida’s 50 Fastest Growing Companies for several years. In 2007, the firm was also voted one of Jacksonville’s Best Places to Work.

Later in his career, Tim served as Executive Director of the Southeast Volusia Advertising Authority, Director of Social Media at Web.com, Director of Communications at HomeASAP, and concluded his professional journey as Creative Director at Beson4. He also co-hosted the Knot Strong Podcast continuing to share his insight, faith, and thoughtful perspective with others.

Tim was a faithful member of Ponte Vedra Presbyterian Church, where he worshiped for 22 years and where his faith and relationship with Jesus continued to grow.

Adventure was woven into the fabric of Tim’s life. His lifelong passion for surfing, which began at age 15, took him on surf trips with his family to places as far as Fiji and as close as the Bahamas. He loved the ocean, the mountains, and all of God’s creation, finding beauty in every place he went. A true thrill seeker, Tim embraced experiences like skydiving, white water rafting, zip lining, and chasing waves. He joyfully passed that adventurous spirit on to his daughters, beginning with roller coasters at Disney and eventually skydiving together once they became adults. He loved sharing those moments, believing life was meant to be fully lived.

Tim was a self-professed eternal optimist, always finding the silver lining in every circumstance. He lived a life marked by gratitude, meeting both joy and challenge with perspective, humility, and hope. While his professional accomplishments were significant, Tim believed his greatest legacy would always be his daughters and the way he loved God, his family, and his friends.

Tim is survived by his mother and stepfather, Sandra and Lee Panitz; his beloved wife, Gretchen Hamby; daughters, Kendall Hamby and Kaelyn Hamby; brother, David Hamby; sisters-in-law, Amy Hamby and Christina Long (John Ed); his brother-in-law, Trey Chapman (Jessie); his parents-in-law, Darrell and Rita (“Tracy”) Chapman; and many nieces and nephews who loved him dearly. He was preceded in death by his father, Clayton Hamby, and his brother, Robert “Rob” Hamby.

A memorial service honoring Tim’s life will be held at Ponte Vedra Presbyterian Church on January 17, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., with a reception to follow. In keeping with Tim’s love for the ocean, his surf friends will gather to honor his life with a paddle out ceremony at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to their church, Ponte Vedra Presbyterian Church.  

Tim will be remembered for his adventurous spirit, his optimism, his deep gratitude for life, and his unwavering love for his Savior, his family and his friends. He is now living free, held in the eternal peace of Christ.