Doris J Hamilton

Doris was born on October 14, 1944 in Holly Springs, MS to Dread and Ella Walls. She received an Associates degree from Henderson Business College in Accounting, and was a payroll accountant for 25 years. On June 12, 1968, she married Sammie Hamilton and they together raised 2 sons Roderick and Eric Hamilton.

Doris had a passion for God, a passion for sports and most importantly, a passion for her Grandchildren. She loved elephants with the trunk up and pointed at the door. This was to emphasize prosperity to all who entered. Doris was known to show her love to others through her masterful skills in the kitchen. She had an infectious personality, was kind, direct and determined to make all around her successful.

Doris was preceded in death by her Father and Mother. She’s survived by her sisters Sweetie White, Karen Washington, Marian Walls and her brother Lucious Walls and additional close family members. Also her Aunt Ethella Walls, several cousins, nieces and nephews, 9 grandchildren, too many loved ones to name individually.

The memorial for Doris will be held Friday, July 19th at the Advantage Funeral Home at 6901 W. Indian School Rd, Phoenix AZ 85037 at 10:00am.

Flowers or donations may be sent to 10265 W Camelback Ste 120, Phoenix, AZ 85037

Some of the most beautiful words written in the bible are a narrative of the virtues of a Noble Woman found in Proverbs 31. This whole piece speaks of the unsurpassed value of what a woman brings to a relationship as a wife, a mother and to her community. She is the one who helps her partner build the household and secure everything they need to enjoy a prosperous life.

“… She is like the merchants ships; she brings her food from afar, she rises while it is night, and gives meat to her household, she considers a field, and she buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants the vineyard…her candle does not out by night, she lays her hand to the spindle…she stretches out her hand to the poor, yes she reaches forth her hand to the needy…she is clothed in strength and dignity and she laughs without fear of the future. When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness.

She watches everything in her household and suffers nothing with laziness. Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her…”There are many virtuous and capable women in this world, but you surpass them all.” Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.”

Today is a day of celebrating, you are here to offer the loud and proud testament to the lovely life of a noble woman, Doris J. Hamilton. All those beautiful things that you admired in Doris and speak about, you are publically declaring her praise.

Welcome and good morning. My name is Ronda Berkey and I am honored to stand as your funeral Celebrant this morning, as you have gathered to pay tribute to a life so well lived. It is a significant day when we stop to acknowledge the importance of a life and the many roles one person fills in their world. Doris respectfully served as a wife, a mother, a grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin and a most beloved friend.

Your presence is a sign of respect for how Doris made a difference in your life and you took the time to stop and honor her special place on this earth.

As a community we have all suffered the loss of Doris.

This was a woman of great faith and you can all attest that she was conducting prayers for all of you, family, friends, all the people she encountered, and I feel she prayed for all of us in this world. It was in this light of faith that she illuminated the way for so many.

During Doris’s earthly existence she exuded the light of Christ. She read her bible daily and worked hard to be in His spirit. Her long history as a believer was shared and celebrated by her roles in the churches she attended; the Antioch Baptist Church in Chicago and The Carpenters House of Worship here in Phoenix. Let us pay homage to the light she was to her community; I ask and Rod, Eric and Sam to step forward to light this candle to represent her light and the bright spirit she will continue to be.

***lighting of candle***

As your eyes take in the flame that burns; may you feel the divine spirit of our creator, may you be embraced by a feeling of healing and joyfully recall your own significant memories of Doris.

To speak of her light, Doris had that since of positivity and was always hopeful that prosperity was going to just rain down! Maybe that rain was going to come from those Elephants she loved- trunk up and ready to spray love as they were pointed at the door. She had that spark and dazzle in her smile, that one you see when you encounter a person of genuine happiness. For me, as I sat with the family and gathered Doris’s story; I experienced that brightness, because I saw it all in her family’s eyes. I heard it in the sheer enthusiasm in their voices as they talked about their mom and their grandma. The way they talked about her passion of sports and how she just gaga of her grandkids. This is a woman who has left a huge legacy behind of extreme love and laughter.

Eric & Rod would tell me that this woman’s heart and soul was energized by her grandchildren. Doris was all about family and cherished all the love and excitement that they brought to her home. She shared her childhood with six siblings in Mississippi. As the second in line of six kids she had to take on a certain boldness in her personality. You can also imagine that her tenacity, love of life, sense of humor, and sarcasm were formed from this strong foundation. It was said she could have very strong opinions and she was a leader, she tried to direct everything…including suggesting what you might do with your own life and what she thought you should name your children…she wouldn’t hold back- she was going to tell you. Doris spoke from a vast experience of gained wisdom. She and her sister left Mississippi to find employment in Chicago, Illinois. She worked for Standard Oil and then she became a part of history in becoming one of the first black women hired to perform accounting for the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad. She was successful and made her mark. Her vitality did not go unnoticed.

She also stole the heart of Sam Hamilton and he made her his wife, June 12, 1968. The couple was blessed with the birth of two sons, Rod and Eric.

It is said, “Everyone has a purpose in life and a unique talent to give to others. And when we blend this unique talent with service to others, we experience the exultation of our own spirit”

Doris was a woman of many talents. She knitted, Rod said he remembers those hats she would make them for the winters. She was a good seamstress, she not only made her own dresses, she also made him his sport coats when he was little. In service at her church Doris was the Leader of the Jr. Nurses who were utilized at the healing rituals at Antioch Baptist. When someone was overcome and captured by the spirit, they would fall into the arms of a catcher and Doris would throw the water on them to revive them.

It was in her cooking that Doris shared her love. She loved to feed people. As the obituary so eloquently states: “she showed her love to others through her masterful skills in the kitchen.” Eric said you could just feel mom’s love in every bite you took. She hosted the big cat fish frys, made the best greens, her meals were a soul food feast. And when I asked the family what was their favorite- there was an overwhelming shout out to her Peach Cobbler. Doris could produce magic in her beloved crock pot- Kadeidra said, “She loved her crock pot!”

Eric stated that his mother fed every one of his friends, and even in his mom’s later years, if something was burnt, or something was left out, you still wanted to eat what she prepared; because it was cooked with such love. Doris did have that unique talent to draw you in and offer her best with the food she prepared, the hugs she gave you when you were in her orbit and the news she shared with you from what she enjoyed reading or what she saw on late night Jimmy Kimmel.

Doris came to the valley and found a new home to bless. Her son Eric had already moved here and she would now serve the purpose of helping to raise her grandchildren. A whole new set of lives to enrich and enlighten. And she was here to make sure you were successful! Nine grandchildren now each have their own specific and cherished memory of how Doris lived and provided inspiration to their lives. She was funny as she sang, “Hit the road Jack” signaling it was time to go to school, you’d hear her sing and see her dance, she could put the move on like Cam Newton and Russell Wilson. It was “a thing” to go to grandma’s house and she loved when her “four girls” were there under her roof. You were thankful for her big breakfasts that she cooked on that griddle.

All of you will miss your daily phone calls…ALL of them. You will miss the long conversations you had with her…she could stay on the phone for hours and AT ALL hours she was an easy reach. Kadeidra said she’d hear her on the phone at 3:00 am- what was that!

The author Andrew Murray wrote: “When we pray for the spirits help- we will simply fall down at the Lord’s feet in weakness. It is there we will find the victory and power that comes from his love.”

Kadeidra said it was often when she would arrive home and there she would find grandma down on her knees in prayer, alone…she was inspired by this, seeing her grandmother’s genuineness to just drop down and pray.

This type of prayer was what gave her the fight to defy the doctors prognosis of just giving her just 5 years, heck no- they were not going to tell her how long- so she gave them another fifteen years- and until the day she passed she was planning on going another ten. She kept her feisty attitude with her nurses and held out hope for more!

I have been privileged to share with you some of the highlights of Doris’s character, as I said in the beginning I hope that as you have that feeling of hope and healing- we hope you have the ability to share your joy about your time with Doris.

They say we do not remember days, but we remember moments…so please feel free to share that moment….

*** Speakers ***

Thank you for sharing your perfect moments…

After our service here in the chapel that family has asked that you join them for a time of food and fellowship at The Lighthouse, that address is 12351 W. Indian School , Avondale. Please join the family and continue to share your memories and celebrate the life of Doris.

One of the greatest gifts we can give people is the “hope” that death is nothing to fear. As a believer in Christ, Doris knew - Jesus comforts us and reassures us that, “those who believe in Me, even though they die; they shall live, and whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.” We are given a beautiful lesson in faith in the poetry of the Psalms, which have often been used for gatherings such as these to offer a picture of the Lord’s safety and care for us. Psalm twenty three reminds us of a thankful King David, who reflected that even in his darkest hours, the Lord was there to guide him forward to peace, just as our Lord is here for you today to bring you out of your grief…. As we hear this prayer…call upon this promise of the Shepard who will guide you now…

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for

His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Amen

Doris was your light…she paved the way from your beginning and the things she taught you will inspire you to the very end. As a tribute to this – my gift to all of you is…is to take this light with you- remember her and keep her close!

Let us end with a final blessing- you may bow your heads if you wish.

Dear Lord, as we leave this place today, we leave in thanksgiving, not regret, for Doris’s life was full while she was among us. We are grateful she is at peace and is at rest in your loving presence. May each who have shared this time here today be blessed in your coming in and going out as you end this day.

Amen

Our service has ended go in peace