Grace Bell Hammonds

Mrs. Grace Bell Hammonds was born on April 30, 1909 to Mr. Joe and Rose Avery in Madison, Georgia. She joined AME United Methodist Church in the late 1940’s and remained a member until the early 1980’s. It was in the mid 1980’s that she began to study the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses and was baptized. Mrs. Hammonds lived for many years in Covington, Georgia before moving to Lithonia, Georgia for 30 years in the 1930’s. She later moved to Decatur, Georgia in the early 1970’s prior to moving back to Lithonia in the late 1990’s. She was married to the late Charlie Brown and from this union they had one child, Mrs. Daisy Young (Tommy, deceased). She later was joined in Matrimony to Mr. Henry Lewis Hammonds. Together they had five children and one step-son; Mr. John Hammonds (Sue), Mr. Virgil Hammonds (Carolyn), Mrs. Elizabeth Edwards (Arthur), Mr. M. Arthur Hammonds, Mr. Frank Hammonds and Mrs. Deborah Bailey (Willie). In the mid 60’s, she decided to go back to night school to further her education. She became lifelong friends with the late Ms. Lorel Swanson whom was also her employer for 10 years. Mrs. Hammonds worked as a housekeeper at The Stone Mountain Inn for 20 years before retiring and later worked at The Belvedere Inn for another 10 years. She enjoyed cooking, dancing, singing, playing the piano, gardening, quilting and sewing; who could forget her infamous Michael Jackson quilt. She passed along all her many skills like sewing and cooking to her family. She was the life-long caretaker to her granddaughter Sylvia Hammonds. She shared childhood nursery rhymes with her many grandchildren and loved to tell amazing stories of her life. Mrs. Grace Bell Hammonds departed this life on Thursday, February 28, 2013. She leaves behind two sons, Virgil (Bunny) and Arthur (Deek); three daughters, Daisy, Elizabeth (Sister), Deborah (Dib); two brothers, Joshua Avery and Joseph Avery and Joshua Avery; one sister, Beatrice Grier; 28 grandchildren, 42 great grandchildren, 23 great-great grandchildren, and 2 great-great-great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Henry Hammonds; step-son, John Henry; son, Frank Hammonds; three sisters, Fannie, Annie B., and Leana; three brothers, Amos, John, and Willie; grandsons, Vincent Hammonds, Mark Hammonds; and great-great grandson Mearco Young, Jr.

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Grace Bell Hammonds

April 30, 1909 - February 28, 2013