Thelma Joyce Chewning Hamilton

Joyce was born July 31, 1936, to the parentage of Byron and Odessa Chewning. She was met safely in the arms of Jesus to her new heavenly home on February 5, 2020, where she joined other loved ones gone before her.

Joyce was always highly regarded for her people skills, soft spoken with a willingness to listen. Known to praise where it was warranted, she was a problem solver rather than one to cast blame. Even when the disease of dementia overtook her, she never said ugly things about anyone. She remained a true southern lady even until the end.

She enjoyed all things related to sewing with quilting being her passion. She was an award winning quilter in both the states of Florida and Georgia, often competing in the Georgia State and Florida State Fairs, earning several ribbons: Gold, Red, Blue and White. Based on pictures of the past, our family estimates that mom gave away over 500 quilts that she made in the span of her lifetime. Her quilts were used as gifts to young couples in the churches that she attended and to her nieces and nephews when they married. Later, she made baby quilts for their newest bundles of joy. She also made quilts for her husband, children, and their spouses, and continued the tradition with baby quilts for her grands and great-grands! Included in this menagerie of quilts, many were given to relatives and special friends while others were auctioned off in raffles benefiting charities.

When the dementia progressed, Joyce was no longer able to use her talents to make gifts of her creative quilts that she once loved. As time passed, she became more agitated and distraught because her mind could no longer remember how to use her beloved quilting patterns, fabrics, scissors, thimbles, sewing machines and quilting frames. It was at this time that her family decided it was best for her to not see these items any longer. Her sewing/quilt room was locked until she and Howard moved back to Warner Robins to be nearer to their children. During the move, Cheryl went through all of the craft/quilting supplies in her sewing room where she found several notebooks which had entries from Joyce. One in particular stood out with one simple sentence: a prayer which said to God "Lord, give me a ministry". In it was mom’s favorite verse, "Whatever you so find to do with your hands, do it mightily as unto the Lord." She soon found her ministry which was often making lap quilts for nursing home residents, and countless bibs, burp cloths, and baby blankets for the county's Teen Pregnancy Crisis Centers in Florida. In another notebook it was found that she made quilts and lap throws for veterans and homeless people that she met. She never did these acts of kindness for praise as she never told a soul. We believe that since her transition into heaven she has met her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who greeted her with the biggest hug, and told her "Well done thy good and faithful servant! Welcome Home!"

Joyce and Howard have been members of Suwannee Baptist Church in Suwannee, Florida. When they moved to Georgia in 1973, they became members of Second Baptist Church where they are members of Kindred Spirit Sunday School Class.

She battled the demons of dementia until the bitter end leaving behind a multitude of family and friends who will surely miss her. Rest well our beautiful, wonderful lady. We will cherish and love you always.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, Richard Byron Chewning and Odessa Florence Chewning of Cross City Florida, and all of her brothers and sisters: Patricia, Margaret, and Betty, brothers: Charles ,Robert, and Arnold and twins Billy and Bobby. Also, beloved great granddaughter, Magdalena Eileen (Lanie) McCoy.


Left behind is her husband of 65 years, Howard H. Hamilton, formerly of Suwannee, Florida and now of Warner Robins Georgia; daughter, Cheryl E. Pritchett (husband Horace) of Warner Robins, Georgia, and sons Jeffrey Hamilton (wife Sharon) of Colbert Georgia, Edwin Hamilton (wife Geli) of Dacula, Georgia, and Keith Hamilton of Warner Robins, Georgia; 9 Grandchildren, and 17 great-grandchildren. Also, left to cherish her memory are in-laws, Guy Kerby of Clayton Georgia, Marty Chewning of Merritt Island, Florida, Patricia Gambel and JD Cannon, and Tommy & Diane Hamilton of Cross City, Florida, along with a vast host of nieces, nephews and other loved ones; and special friends, Brink, Cathy, and Lacey – we all so love you!

A heartfelt “thank you” goes to Antebellum Senior Living Center in Warner Robins Georgia, where Joyce and Howard lived until August 2018. At that time, Mom needed more intense and specialized care so dad chose to take her to the Oaks Nursing Home in Marshallville, Georgia, where he stayed with her. Another special “thank you” goes to mom’s "new" friend and caregiver, Ms. Doris, along with the many other special caregivers and staff at The Oaks who loved mom so much and took precious care of her and dad.

Visitation will be held Saturday, February 8, 2020, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Rick Gooding Funeral Home. A funeral service celebrating the life of Mrs. Hamilton will immediately follow at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 8, 2020, in the chapel of Rick Gooding Funeral Home, 16984 SE Hwy 19 Cross City, Florida, 32628. She will be laid to rest following the service. Joyce's nephew, Tim Cannon and Pastor Fred Edwards will lovingly preside over the service.

The family will accept flowers since peace lilies and daisies were "little happy flowers" to mom, or donations can be made to mom's favorite charities: The Log Cabin Quilters in Levy County, Florida, 11050 NW 10th Avenue Chief land, Florida, 32626, or to Kindred Spirit Sunday School Class for the Church Building fund to Second Baptist Church, 2504 Moody Road, Warner Robins, Georgia, 31088, or to any charity that gives to others in need.

*It is the family's humble request, if mom made you a quilt please bring it to the service and place it on the pew to honor her love for you.*