Obituaries

Waymon Ray Hinson, PhD

October 6, 1949 – January 22, 2026

Waymon Ray Hinson, PhD, age 76, of Denison, Texas, passed away on January 22, 2026, following a brief battle with Rapidly Progressive Dementia (RPD).

Dr. Hinson was born on October 6, 1949, in Cleveland, Texas, to Bula Mae Vann and Luther James Hinson. He grew up in Trinity, Texas, and graduated from Trinity High School in May 1968. Following graduation, he pursued a Bachelor of Arts in Theology at Lubbock Christian College, graduating in 1972. He earned a Master of Theology degree from Harding Graduate School of Religion in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1976.

Dr. Hinson served for ten years in youth ministry at Highland Street Church of Christ in Memphis, Tennessee; North Loop Church of Christ in El Paso, Texas; and White Station Church of Christ in Memphis. He completed his Doctor of Philosophy degree in 1982 at the University of Mississippi. For the next two years, he served as Dean of Students at Ohio Valley Christian College in Parkersburg, West Virginia. In 1984, he and his family relocated to Abilene, Texas.

Licensed in Texas as a Psychologist and Marriage and Family Therapist, Dr. Hinson spent 24 years teaching in the Department of Marriage and Family Therapy at Abilene Christian University, where he served as both professor and department head. During this time, he also maintained a private practice, Big Country Family Therapy Associates. He was deeply involved in professional leadership, serving with the Texas Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, and for seven years as Presiding Officer of the Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists.

In 2008, Dr. Hinson relocated to Ada, Oklahoma, where he joined the Chickasaw Nation Department of Family Services as Executive Officer. In this role, he was instrumental in establishing the modern mental healthcare system for the Chickasaw Nation. Following his retirement, Dr. Hinson continued his life’s work advocating for the rights of Black farmers in their struggle against the USDA. He was affiliated with Gary Grant and the Black Farmers and Agriculturalists Association in Tillery, North Carolina, and served as an advisor to the USDA Coalition of Minority Employees and the Justice for Black Farmers Group, led by Lawrence Lucas.

His scholarly and advocacy work focused on Black land acquisition and dispossession. He collaborated with Shoun Hill on the documentary I’m Just a Layman in the Pursuit of Justice: Black Farmers Fight USDA, which chronicles the stories of African American farmers who prevailed against the USDA and Department of Justice in the late 1990s.

More information about this work can be found at:
blackfarmersinsearchofjusticefilm.com
www.letjusticeroll.blogspot.com

Dr. Hinson is survived by his beloved wife of 55½ years, Charla Sue Nichols Hinson, of the home; his son, Joshua D. Hinson, PhD, of Ada, Oklahoma; and his son, Micah P. Hinson, and daughter-in-law, Lina Maria Sanabria, of Madrid, Spain. He is also survived by eight grandchildren: Ruslan Hinson and wife Rita of Austin, Texas; Andrey Hinson of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Levi Hinson and wife Bree of Ada, Oklahoma; Noah Hinson of Ada, Oklahoma; and Wiley, Mosey, Bird, and Lula Hinson of Denison, Texas. He is further survived by his siblings: Frances Thornton and husband Jimmy; Billy Hinson and wife Joy; Jerry Hinson and wife Ann; and Louise Parker.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Luther James Hinson and Bula Mae Vann Hinson; his brother, James Hinson, and sister-in-law, Marie; and his brother-in-law, James Parker.

A private family memorial will be held in the spring of 2026. Friends and family are invited to honor Dr. Hinson’s memory by sharing reflections on his Facebook page. In accordance with his wishes, memorial contributions may be made to the following organizations:

• Black Farmers and Agriculturalists Association (BFAA)
  c/o Gary Redding
  P.O. Box 372
  Halifax, NC 27839
• African Christian College
  africanchristiancollege.org/give
  P.O. Box 80036
  Austin, TX 78708
• Dr. Foree Grove Endowed Scholarship
  Lubbock Christian University
  5601 19th Street
  Lubbock, TX 79407

The family wishes to express their heartfelt gratitude to the many friends, family members, and colleagues who have shared stories, memories, and words of comfort. Each expression of love and condolence is deeply cherished