Nellie Mae Hamilton

April 6, 1930 – December 6, 2019

Nellie Mae Johnson Hamilton of Hackett, Arkansas, widow of Charles F. (Frank) Hamilton, passed away December 6, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee at the age of 89 years and 8 months.

Nellie was born in the family home April 6, 1930 in the Big Creek Narrows Community just east of Greenwood to Clyde Thomas Johnson and Cora Lee Coleman Johnson. Like many families in the area at that time, they had very little money, but they felt fortunate – with their livestock, gardens and orchards -- they were able to raise the majority of their food and sell and barter for other necessities.

Nellie was the youngest of their twelve children, and was born only three months after the youngest son, Burt, died of pneumonia at the age of 2 years, 4 months.

She attended elementary school in Greenwood at the big rock school very near here on Denver Street which is now the Wilkerson Home. In 1941, the family farm on which they lived was acquired by the United States Government as part of the property for the establishment of Camp Chaffee (now Fort Chaffee).

At that time, Clyde and Cora purchased a home with farm property in Witcherville and moved there where they continued farming, raising their family and lived out the remainder of their lives. Nellie attended Mansfield School where she graduated in 1949.

In 1950, Nellie married Frank Hamilton. Frank was a World War II veteran who had been discharged in 1946 and returned to his home in the Mt. Zion Community. Nellie and Frank made their home and raised their three children on the same farmland where Frank had grown up. They were married for 47 years when Frank died in 1997.

Nellie worked alongside Frank on the farm, a devoted wife and mother; a caregiver for her mother-in-law; she always put others before herself. In 1974, when circumstances necessitated, she went to work outside the home and spent over 20 years at Southwest Die Casting in Fort Smith. She enjoyed her years there and the many friends that she made. Upon her retirement from Southwest, Nellie devoted herself to taking care of Frank, who was in poor health, until his death in 1997.

Nellie remained in her home on the family farm until December of 2009 when problems with her memory compelled her to move to Golden Years Retirement Home in Greenwood. A very difficult decision, but she dealt with the change with grace, making new friends, enjoying activities (particularly Bingo!), and as always, living her faith (sustained by daily Bible readings).

Golden Years was home for Nellie for over four years and she grew to love her friends and the staff there. But, unfortunately her memory issues were progressing and another difficult decision had to be made. In April of 2014, shortly before her 84th birthday, Nellie relied once again on her strong faith (still doing those daily Bible readings!).

The woman who had never lived more than a few miles from where she was born, moved to Elmcroft, an assisted living facility in Nashville, TN to be near her daughter. She was to make more new friends, participate in numerous activities including: daily group walks on the grounds (weather permitting), singing in a chorus that entertained in hospitals and senior living facilities, riding the bus to local events, taking partin the annual Christmas pageants, riding miles on the exercise bike, daily Bible readings, attending church and ladies’ Bible study, and playing Bingo three times a week! She was truly loved by all who knew her, residents and staff alike.

Two years after moving to Nashville, and just shy of her 86th birthday, Nellie fell and broke her hip. While her physical recovery was good, the overall trauma escalated her dementia to the point that for her to live safely she would need to live in a facility that specialized in memory care. Such a place, Barton House (where they played Bingo daily!), was found and became her home until her death 3½ years later.

Her sweet spirit, her kindness to everyone, her sense of humor and quickness to laugh, her grateful heart – she loved those who took care of her and they loved her. And, as she deteriorated, she was well-taken care of by those who knew her and loved her.

Nellie loved God. She loved her family.

Among the many friends and family members that Nellie will reunite with in Heaven are her husband Charles F. (Frank) Hamilton (b1923 d1997); parents Cora Lee Coleman Johnson (b1888 d1971) and Clyde Thomas Johnson (b1886 d1962); brothers and sisters Ethel Mae Johnson (b1907 d2000), Helen Leona Johnson (b1909 d1938), Nettie Elizabeth Johnson Martin Marsden (b1910 d2001), Frank Fred Johnson (b1912 d1995), Lillian Faye (Billie) Johnson Holland (b1914 d1986), Charlie Jesse Johnson (b1915 d2001), Flora Bell Johnson Ibison (b1917 d2010), Ruth Mae Johnson Francis (b1919 d2010), Earl Thomas Johnson (b1923 d2010), Margie Lee Johnson Puckett (b1925 d1995), and Burt Johnson (b1927 d1930).

Survived by three children: Debbie Hamilton Moore (Patrick), Nashville, TN; Charlie Hamilton (LaRhesa), Hackett, AR; and Danny Hamilton (Kathy), Norman, OK. Blessed with five grandchildren: Michael Hamilton (Ashley), Panama City Beach, FL; Joseph Hamilton (Amber), Linn, MO; Jamie Freeman (Surene), Hackett, AR; Daniel Hamilton (Tiffany), Alexandria, VA; and Mandy Hamilton Bartlett (Andrew) Norman, OK; several great grandchildren; nieces Joyce Francis Spradley, Greenwood, AR; Carolyn Francis Wollard, Kansas City, KS; Adah Faye Holland Pearcy, Greenwood, AR; Sharon Jean Johnson Armstrong, San Angelo, TX; JoAnn Puckett, Oregon; nephews Henry Clyde Holland (Fredia), Greenwood, AR; Bill Ibison (Kay), Weatherford, TX; Glendell Johnson, Booneville, AR.

Funeral service will be at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 11 at McConnell Funeral Home Chapel in Greenwood with graveside services following at Mountain View Cemetery. Visitation with family and friends will be at the funeral home on Tuesday, December 10, 4:30-6:30 p.m. All arrangements are under the direction of McConnell Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that you make a donation or do a good deed in Nellie’s memory to a worthy cause of your choice.