Obituary: James Gregory Hinson, 1965 - 2026

James Gregory Hinson, known to all as Greg, died unexpectedly of natural causes at home in Stratham, NH, on February 7, 2026.

Greg was born in Columbus, Georgia to his loving parents, James and Faye Hinson on May 2, 1965. His happy childhood was filled with family, church, playing the trombone, riding his Honda SL70 dirt bike (the best Christmas present ever), teasing his two younger sisters, and cheering for the Atlanta Braves and Georgia Bulldogs.

From his first days in school, Greg excelled as a student. He earned a nearly perfect score on the SAT after staying up late to watch baseball the night before. He went on to study at Furman University and graduated from Wheaton College (IL) in 1988. At Wheaton, Greg met his best friend, Andrew Johnston, who became a brother to him. Greg continued his education at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine. He graduated in 1994 and soon began his career as a family practice physician. He practiced in Tifton, Georgia and then on Nantucket, MA. Greg was a true small-town doctor who knew his patients and their families. He was particularly skilled in walking alongside patients having babies and those in hospice. He fought against the profit driven systems of corporate hospitals and health insurance; he focused always on providing the best possible care. In 2012, Greg began a new career at eClinicalWorks in Westborough, MA. His work there helped reduce the burden of electronic medical record keeping for overworked clinicians. He loved telling his co-workers terrible jokes and creating t-shirts that poked fun at the world of health care IT. He was employed at this wonderful company until his death.

Greg was a father to four beautiful children: James, Shea, Carley, and Maddux, whom he shared with Amy, his former wife of 23 years. He loved to watch James sail, enjoy Shea’s paintings, marvel at Carley’s figure skating, and hear about Maddux’s epic adventures. He was excited to see who they became as adults. He passed along his love of Nantucket’s natural beauty to them. He enjoyed many days and nights chasing the perfect photographic image of an island storm or starlit sky, often accompanied by one of his kids. Greg had a lifelong passion for cooking. He created a food blog where he shared recipes and won several local cooking competitions. He appreciated everything from the boiled peanuts of Georgia to the oysters of Nantucket, and he was happiest when he was cooking for his family and friends. Greg enjoyed the Southern hospitality and warmth of his sister, Beth, and teasing her about which one of them was the favorite child. He was inspired by her faith and love for family. Greg cherished his parents’ 60-plus years of marriage and the foundation they created for their family with their faith and hard work. In 2019, Greg met his wife, Jenny, and they married in 2023. They shared a home in Portsmouth and then Stratham, where together they delighted in their dog, Daisy. The beaches and woods of the Seacoast were part of their everyday life, along with the friendship of the kindest neighbors who welcomed them in both places. They had almost seven years together filled with love, companionship, and a deep gratitude for second chances.

Greg is predeceased by his sister, SeGay Lucas, and his mother, Faye Hinson. He is survived by his wife, Jennifer Hinson, as well as his children James, Shea, Carley, and Maddux. He is also survived by his father, James H. Hinson (Margaret), his sister, Mary Beth Brown (Michael), and their four children. A celebration of his life will take place this spring at St John’s Episcopal Church in Portsmouth, NH (date to be announced). Donations in Greg’s honor may be made to Gather, a food pantry in Portsmouth, or to Fairwinds Counseling Center on Nantucket, where Greg served as Board President for a number of years.