Emma Louise Hamilton

Emma Hamilton was born in Lakeland, Florida, on December 26, 1947, to Clarence Davis and Irene Carr. They raised her in the small town of Belle Glade, locally known as Muck City. Being the youngest of two, she was a curious and mischievous child. Her early years were filled with the adventure and hijinks that come hand in hand with growing up in the rural South of that time. She would spend summers alongside her nephew Robert, who was more like a brother to her due to them being so close in age, getting into all sorts of playful trouble. After getting into trouble in school one day, she was punished with the task of working in the school library, organizing the books. Here, she began to read through the encyclopedia each day, learning all about the amazing things the world had to offer. This inspired her to travel and see more of that world. She would go on to attend Howard University, where she would further broaden her horizons during the time of the Black Power Movement and student-organized protests of the ills of the time. Her love for community and pride for her people was enriched and solidified by her experiences at Howard and in the city of Washington, D.C She worked in the office of the ROTC professor who saw potential in Emma to do well in the military. Colonel Hood would advocate for Emma to take part in the Junior woman’s program. In a time where the military was still unsure about the role and place for women in its ranks, Colonel Hood advocated for her with recruiters and encouraged Emma to consider serving. Emma’s mission to see the world was just beginning, and one of the first boxes she wanted to check on her list was to travel to Paris. With this goal in mind, she joined the U.S. Army. Off to basic training she went with dreams of the Eiffel Tower, gourmet chefs, and the Mona Lisa, only to receive her first assignment in the exotic state of Alabama. But this did not deter Emma, and she eventually made it to Paris and beyond, building a stellar military career along the way. She served in Military intelligence for 2 years before moving into the medical service corp. Throughout her career she would reach many milestones and receive several accolades. She was the first female commander of a Co-ed company and one of the very few black female officers at that time. After 23 years of service Emma would retire with the rank of Lt. Colonel. She joined Delta Sigma Theta in (?) and has been an active member ever since. Leaning into her love for community and her penchant for legacy and sisterhood, she mentored many young new Deltas that crossed the sands behind her. During her travels, Emma would develop a love for fine art that would ripen into a taste for African American artists specifically. Everything from rare and unique paintings to finely crafted dolls and figurines became a part of Emma’s eclectic collecting avocation. A love for history was always at the core of who she was. “Never forget your roots” was a mantra she kept to the very end. From a very young age, she had always had an interest in genealogy. During her retirement years, she became one of the most prominent members of the genealogical community. She sat on the board of the Georgia Genealogical society and was also the President of Atlanta chapter of Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society. She delighted in discovering not only her own family tree and history but also that of her many friends and loved ones who expressed an interest in this knowledge. One of the many accolades of her genealogy career was having the Suzie King Taylor women’s institute and Gullah Geechee museum dedicate a collection of research books to her under the title “ Lt. Colonel Emma D Hamilton Retired US Army Library of the United States colored troupe”. Genealogy was Emma’s true calling and passion. She was happiest researching and sharing this knowledge with any who would listen and often stressed its importance for Black people in particular. Emma’s life was one of love, strength, laughter, and legacy. She’d never met a stranger and always left those that she touched better off than when she met them. Her heart was huge, her spirit was warm, and her aura was nothing short of royal. We all have stars in our crown waiting for us when we get to heaven thanks to her. She gave us so many lessons on honoring those who came before us. We thank you, Empress. You will never be forgotten, and you can never be replaced. We celebrate your life today, and we continue to honor you with the way we live ours. Thank you for everything. Emma was preceded in death by her parents, Irene Carr and Clarence Davis, and her beloved sister, Catherine Frazier. She leaves to cherish her memory her son, Brian Hamilton (wife Jainell C. Hamilton), and her grandchildren, Nadiyah Lewis and Navina Lewis. She is also lovingly remembered by Robert Frazier II, Robert Frazier III, Eric Frazier, Kayla Frazier, Chanelle Frazier, Zenobia Frazier, Jordan Frazier, Lacrecia Floyd, and Sydney Floyd. Emma’s heart extended far beyond family by blood—she was blessed with many adopted daughters, sons, and godchildren, all of whom she loved deeply. Services entrusted to Gregory B. Levett & Sons Funeral Home, 4347 Flat Shoals Parkway, Decatur, GA 30034.

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Emma Louise Hamilton

December 26, 1947 - January 26, 2026