Juliette Stephens Hamilton

Legacy of Love Juliette Stephens Hamilton, passed away on Tuesday, November 8, 2022. She was born on March 25, 1918, in Henrico County, Virginia to the late Olivia and Ernest Stephens. Juliette graduated from Armstrong High School in 1936, attended Virginia Union University from 1936-37, and Virginia State College for Negroes (Virginia State University), 1937-38. She was an active citizen, volunteer, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother. In April 1942 she married Master Sergeant Alcus Hamilton (Ret.), a WWII veteran, who predeceased her. With wedding dress in hand, she traveled to Tacoma, Washington for the ceremony and later joined him in Guam. Of this union were born two children, Alcus Hamilton, Jr. (Sherry) and Carmen Hamilton Bell. In 1961, she enrolled in the Licensed Practical Nurse Program and did her practicum at MCV and St. Phillip Hospitals. In 1962, she graduated in the top five of her class to become a Licensed Practical Nurse. Juliette worked as a Nurses Aid at Richmond Memorial Hospital from 1955-61, as well as a School Guard for the Richmond Police Force from 1955-61, and a License Practical Nurse from 1962-1982. It was important to Juliette to be a responsible citizen, socially, politically, and financially. In addition to her parents, she was greatly influenced as a child by Maggie Walker, embracing the mantra “Pay yourself every month as if it were a bill!” She was also a faithful member of Second Baptist Church since age 13; most notably, serving for several years on the Finance Committee. Juliette also advocated “seeing the world,” as a Travelaires Club member she traveled all over the US, Europe, Canada, and the Caribbean. Upon her retirement in 1982, she became actively involved in various volunteer initiatives, which she actively participated in until her illness slowed her down in April 2021. These activities included: TRIAD Senior Citizens Police Academy and the Neighborhood Assistance Officer (NAO). Upon graduation from the Academy it was not uncommon to see her about town, donned in her uniform, patrolling in a Richmond Police vehicle; AARP; and the Washington Park Civic League. She was a steady force, who like many black females of her era, was discriminated against, however, she fought relentlessly to overcome. She was a trailblazer who pulled herself up by the bootstraps, choosing not to seek the limelight but, instead, served as a grassroots volunteer to enhance the quality of life through her volunteer efforts with children and the elderly in particular; and just being a solid “good citizen”. Juliette S. Hamilton was a self-sufficient woman, who at 104, still managed her finances, occasionally baked and exercised (laps around the house). Surprisingly, she stopped driving at the age of 102. Her life experiences spanned from witnessing the evolution of TV to having video calls with her family; from seeing the ravages of the Spanish Flu to that of the Corona Virus; and from participating in the rise of the Civil Rights Movement to witnessing the inauguration of the first Black President. Juliette leaves to cherish her loving memory, children, Alcus E. Hamilton Jr. and Carmen H. Bell; grandchildren, Tawanda Hamilton, Shawne Green, Crystal Burson, Leigh Williams, Barry Bell, Gary Hamilton, Alcus E. Hamilton III, and Alicia Cordovano; a host of great and great-great-grandchildren, other relatives and friends.

Tributes

Juliette Stephens Hamilton

March 25, 1918 - November 8, 2022