Jayn R. Hamilton

Jayn Ann Reeves Hamilton, 71, of Jackson, Mississippi, beloved mother and grandmother, passed away on November 2nd of complications from cancer. She made her journey in peace and comfort, surrounded by loved ones. Visitation will be held 4:30 pm Tuesday, with a service at 5:30, at Lakeside Presbyterian Church in Brandon. She will be laid to rest at 11:00 am on Wednesday, November 5 at Evergreen Cemetery in Gulfport.

Jaynee was born October 13, 1943, in Gulfport to Dick M. Reeves and Bernice P. Reeves. As a child, she loved riding her horse, Kelly, along the beach, and sometimes to school. She graduated from Gulfport High School’s class of 1961 and remained a lifelong member of the Glorious Gulfport Girls, a group whose friendship and camaraderie she cherished all her life.

When she found herself a single mother of three with no professional experience, she created her own career to care for her children. She was a dedicated professional who recognized opportunity when she saw it and crafted her own professional path through hard work and integrity. In her fifties, she taught herself how to write computer code and became a successful programmer at the Clarion-Ledger, where she made many lifelong friends before retiring in 2007. She was an independent, strong, intelligent, and successful professional woman well before that was common.

Hers was a kind and generous soul. In her retirement, she worked as a part-time caregiver for children with autism, while also donating her time and energy to caring for rescued pets, particularly pitbulls at CARA. She changed many lives for the better, both human and canine. She practiced her faith in the true spirit of her savior--with love and acceptance for all, but never judgment.

Known as Nonnie to her grandchildren, she was blessed with a sharp wit and a silly sense of humor. A dramatic and imaginative storyteller, Nonnie spent hours entertaining her grandchildren with the tales of Yellow Eye The Pirate, whose adventures on the high seas shortened many car rides. Through all of life’s most difficult challenges, she gave her grandchildren nothing but unquestioned love, support, and friendship. She was a comfort to them as well as a confidant.

She is survived by three proud children--her daughters, Julie Douglas (Jay) of Tupelo and Amy Summerhill of Brandon and her son, Reeves Hamilton of Brooklyn, New York; her grandchildren, Skylar, Savannah, and Sam Summerhill, and Mathew (Kristen), Bennett, and Noah Douglas; her brother Dexter Patterson (Pat); and her brave and valiant protector, Dylan, a six-year-old Dachshund mix. She was a beautiful person, in body and soul, and she will be deeply and sorely missed.

Her family would like to thank the doctors and nurses who helped her along her journey, with special thanks to Sonya Townes and Secily Jackson, her sweet girls. Her family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Retrieving Freedom, a charity that trains service dogs for placement with disabled adults, veterans, and children with autism. Donations can be made at RetrievingFreedom.org.