Millicent May Hamer

Our beloved mother, Millicent May Hamer passed away Thursday April 11, 2013 at 3:55 a.m. at her home Sunrise Assisted Living. She was 87 years old and was born in New Orleans, LA on April 10, 1926. Millicent was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Jan Hamer, her mother, Millicent Halsey May and her father, Dr. Clarence Prentice May. Millicent and Jan were married March 20, 1956, in The Netherlands where they lived for a short time and then returned to New Orleans. Millicent and Jan shared a deep love for 52 years. Millicent is survived by her daughter, Elizabeth Hamer Pope, son in law, Jospeh Keith Pope, daughter, Hilary Halsey Hamer, close family friend, Cheryl Doub, grandson, Rayan Mohammad Hassan Tafran, sister, Elizabeth May Jones of Tampa Florida and numerous nieces and nephews in the United States and The Netherlands. Millicent grew up in New Orleans and graduated from Louise S. McGhee High School and then attended Newcomb University where she received her BA in English. She had a wonderful way with languages and especially loved the etimology/origins of words. Millicent became a Medical Secretary using Shorthand and after that went to New York to be a Proof Reader for a publishing firm. Millicent volunteered as a Reading teacher in the New Orleans public schools. Millicent had a real gift of caring and being a true friend to all and was deeply compassionate to the plight of others. She was an artist who expressed herself through painting, sketching, knitting, quilting, writing, creating through different mediums and teaching. She spoke several languages including French, Spanish, and Dutch as well as having an abiding interest in Latin and Greek. Millicent had started to teach French at Sunrise Assisted Living. She was an avid player of Scrabble due to her love of language; she always sought to understand the origin of each word. Millicent also volunteered her time to visit those in the Reminiscence area of Sunrise. Millicent also belonged to weekly Quilting/Knitting Club along with her daughters and friends. Millicent was an avid nature lover and saw great beauty in flowers, especially trees. She also truly was interested in others and their stories. She enjoyed hearing about different cultures and their history as well as traveling. Millicent and Jan's photograph and personal story was featured in the recent book "Holding Out and Hanging On Surviving Hurricane Katrina" by Thomas Neff. In lieu of flowers the family request donations to St. Joseph Hospice, OCD Foundation or LSU Rural Life Museum. The Family would like to express their deepest thanks to Sandy "Bernadine" Jarmon who was Millicent's caregiver for the last 7 years as well as Danette, Jossia, Mia and her Sunrise family. Visitation will be at Trinity Episcopal Church on Monday April 15, 2013, 10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Followed by the funeral service at 11:00 a.m. Entombment will be in Metairie Cemetery in New Orleans, LA at 2:00 p.m. Rabenhorst Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.