John James Hamilton

John James “Jim” Hamilton, of Richmond, Virginia, passed away June 11, 2022. Originally named Kim Joon Sung, he was born on May 9, 1974, in South Korea; and through the grace of God adopted as an infant by his parents John and Sandy Hamilton. During his life, he lived in Indiana and Kentucky before moving to Richmond where he graduated high school and attended college.

Jim had little patience for intolerance and hypocrisy. He would speak up for the outcast or person on the margins of society. While his circle of friends was not large, his loyalty was fierce to those he allowed into his personal life. Jim stayed true to who he was, and accepted his friends for who they were without judgment. In a world full of noise and distractions, he had the gift to be fully present with the person in front of him.

Jim enjoyed a wide variety of music, and he had all the cds and concert t-shirts to prove it. Beyond that, he spent countless hours listening and studying many artists to better appreciate their lyrics and music. His entertainment interests varied across a wide spectrum, and there was little in the way of TV shows and movies he wasn’t familiar with.

Sports was a constant in his life, nothing more so than the Chicago Cubs. One of the highlights of his childhood was attending a Cubs game at Wrigley Field (the last one before they turned on the lights!); every room of his house had something with their logo, and rarely would he be seen in public without a Cubs hat on his head.

Jim cared for his parents, who were two of his greatest supporters in life. His mother Dr. Sandy Kruschwitz Hamilton preceded him in death in 2014.

Jim is survived by his father, Rev. Dr. John Hamilton; aunts, Patricia Mitcham (Gene) of Huntsville, AL, Ellen McLeod of Tulsa, OK, Elaine Littler of Florence, KY, and Pam Dunagan of San Antonio, TX; and several cousins.

A public service of interment will be held at Trinity United Methodist Church on Friday, June 24, at 3:30pm. A private service will be held at The Hermitage.

In lieu of flowers, donations are encouraged for the National D-Day Memorial Foundation, P.O. Box 77,

Bedford, VA 24523 or Richmond Metropolitan Habitat for Humanity of Richmond, 2281 Dabney Road, Suite A, Richmond, VA 23230.