On Sunday Jan. 12, 2015, late in the day a faithful servant of God, loving wife and mother and gentle soul went to Heaven. Julie Ernestine Davis Hamilton was born Jan. 23, 1932 in Mt. Carmel of Sabine Parish. She counts as her genealogical heritage a long line of pioneers and patriots who served this country from Christopher Garlington V, who served in the American Revolution to brothers who served in World War II. She was born to Julie Catherine Byrd and John Franklin Davis. Julie was a native born Louisianan and John was born in Mississippi. Hamilton’s mother died at her birth, so she was reared by her maternal grandmother, Martha Hardin Byrd in Mt. Carmel. Her father, who lived close, walked down every evening to spend time with her. She accepted Christ at an early age at a small country church, Oak Grove Baptist, which was close enough to walk to. Christ was a part of her entire life. She attended Mt. Carmel High School and remembers not being able to go to school because of the Louisiana maneuvers. She attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. She worked at Sabine Bank and then went to work as a secretary at the First Baptist Church in DeRidder. It was there she met Bob Hamilton, who was to become her husband and lifelong friend. They were married in the First Baptist Church in DeRidder on Aug. 24, 1958. She and Bob lived in Texas where she served as a loving and supportive Pator’s wife for many years. In that time she also earned her Master’s Degree from East Texas State University and retired from teaching at Aaron Parker Elementary School in Paris, Texas. Ernestine was very active in the Sabine Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution where she held several positions of responsibility. She served as Treasurer and as Chaplain. She was an excellent Constitution Week Chairman and her efforts were seen all over the Parish. Her Revolutionary ancestor served from North Carolina and fought honorably for freedom. Among her genealogical connections is her many times removed grandmother, Martha Ball, who is also George Washington’s grandmother. Three daughters were born to Ernestine and Bob. First born, Anita Hamilton Hall and husband, Gary, of Baltimore, Md. Grandsons through Anita are, Charles Robert Wilson of Richmond, Va. and Eric Garlington Wilson, of Florence Ala. Ernie and Bob were proud to attend the college graduations of Eric and Charlie this past year. Their second daughter is Joan Hamilton Andrews and husband, Mitch of Tyler, Texas and their son, Clayton. The youngest born is Suzanne Hamilton of Many. Ernestine is also survived by siblings, Kenneth Davis of West Monroe, Kathleen Robideaux of West Monroe, Maxine Byrd of Shreveport and an extended family of nieces, nephews and cousins. Ernestine is proud to list Bobby Gene Chance, a cousin that she has thought of as a little brother, as well as her cousins, Patricia Ross Glisson and Carolyn Pentecost, as little sisters. Her aunt, Eula Mae Byrd Alford, was lovingly attended to Ernie and her family and fulfilled the role of Grandmother to her daughters. She was preceded in death by her father, John Davis; mother, Julie Byrd Davis; her grandmother, Martha Hardin Byrd; grandfather, Lafayette Washington Byrd; siblings, Christine Davis Huff, Carnadus Davis, Aubrey Davis, Irene Pentecost, and Paralee Skinner. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Alford Heights Baptist Church Building Fund. Donations may be mailed to Church Treasurer, Alford Heights Baptist Church, 235 Byles St., Many, La 71449. Services were held at Alford Heights Baptist Church on Jan. 14. The Rev. Marvin Lelues, pastor of Alford Heights Baptist Church, assisted by Bro. Dean Crittenden officiated. Interment followed at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church Cemetery.
July 17, 2026
