Eulogy of Willie Mae Hamilton

Date: August 5, 2003

On August 15th , 2003, family and friends bid farewell to Willie Mae Hamilton. Willie Mae was one of two remaining Amber Valley second generation pioneers. Willie Mae was 101 years old.


It is indeed my privilege to deliver this Eulogy. As many of you will remember, Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton were our neighbors on the farm in Amber Valley. Willie Mae and my mom were best friends. Nicknames were the norm for anyone who lived in Amber Valley and yes, Mrs. Hamilton had one as well, hers of course was "Child". I have no idea how or why she acquired this name.


Willie Mae (nee Gaston) Hamilton was born in Texas, May 2, 1902. Her parents were Marshall and Matilda Gaston who have five children, Callie, Ruth, Hattie, Willie Mae and Marshall Jr.


The Gaston's immigrated to Maidstone, Saskatchewan when Millie Mae was 7 years old, remaining there for 10 years. She moved to Amber Valley approximately in 1929/30. She married in 1935, and she and her husband Howard Sr. raised five children. The Hamiltons left Amber Valley and moved to Edmonton in 1979. Howard Hamilton Sr. passed away at the ripe old age of 97 years in 1983. Willie Mae moved to Winnipeg in 1987 to be closer to her daughter Louise. She moved into Maples Personal Care Home in 1997 where resided until Sunday, August 10 th when she quietly slipped away to be with her Lord. Louise describes her mother as being of "a very sweet nature" and everyone at the home referred to her as "Mom". Willie Mae attended Pilgrim Baptist Church and enjoyed attending church functions. She always sang or hummed hymns, her favorite being "Walking in Sunlight". On Sunday, Willie Mae joined that heavenly choir which includes many of her friends with whom she sand in that little church in Amber Valley, the likes of which include: Aunt Eva, Aunt Vee, Auntie Babe, Aunt Ruby and of course my mom. I would think they greeted her in their tune "Amber Valley candor" by saying "Child, what took you so long to get here?"


Well, this might explain that, on May 2, 2003, family and friends celebrated her 101 st birthday.


Willie Mae was one of Amber Valley's two remaining second generation descendants of the Black Pioneers. She was 7 years old when she came to Canada in 1910 with her family.


Willie Mae left us in her usual quiet grand style.


Brave Willie Mae! You have run a brilliant race, now "Rest in Peace".