Gloria Rees Hamilton, 81, of Fernandina Beach, Fla., passed away on June 4, 2024. Close family members were by her side when she went to be with her Lord. She had been receiving treatments for cancer during the last two years.
Gloria was born in Alexandria, La., on Oct. 16, 1942, to Gene and Pauline Rees. Her early childhood was spent in Midwest City, Okla., where she started in elementary school. Then, the family moved to Hot Springs, Ark., where she attended junior high school, and then to Lake City, Fla., where she graduated from high school. Gloria started college at Milsaps College in Jackson, Miss., where she majored in art, and then she transferred to Jacksonville University to major in education; she graduated in August 1965. After college, Gloria started her career at Hyde Park Elementary School in Jacksonville, Fla. She enjoyed five years teaching little children in the elementary school.
During her college years at Jacksonville University, Gloria met her future husband, Nelson Hamilton. It was not until later, however, upon a fortuitous reunion in front of Cohens Department Store in Jacksonville that they began dating and were married in August 1967. Gloria became a very loving wife, best friend, devoted mother of their three children, and doting grandmother to their two grandsons.
In February 1972, the family moved to Charleston, S.C. It was an opportunity for Gloria to work for the Hebrew Institute, teaching everything, except religion and Hebrew history for middle school children. There in Charleston was another opportunity for her to attend The Citadel, and she graduated with a Master’s Degree in Education. The family moved to Augusta, Ga., in May 1976, and Gloria took time to devote to her children.
In August 1980, Gloria began her 25-year career with the Columbia County school system of Georgia, where she positively impacted the lives of thousands of students and mentored many future school and district administrators. Columbia County was growing fast, and she started at Evans Elementary School, and became the principal after her first year. She spent the next 12 years in middle schools. After her first two years, she became the principal of each school. During this time, Gloria also went to Augusta State University, where she received an Education Specialty Degree and an additional Master’s Degree. Gloria also became familiar with school construction that provided opportunities to open three new schools as principal, which were Lakeside Middle School, Riverside Middle School and Greenbrier High School. She was promoted in 2002, working with school programs, and she retired from the school system in 2005.
Gloria went on to work for the St. John United Methodist Church in Augusta, Ga., in charge of programs in the church and also focused on charitable outreach, until her retirement in 2013.
Gloria is survived by her husband, Nelson Hamilton; her daughter, Sarah Rees Hamilton; her daughter-in-law, Amy Hamilton; grandson Trevor Hamilton and grandson Kyle Pietila Jr.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Diaconate Fund of First Presbyterian Church, 9 N. Sixth St., Fernandina Beach, FL 32034.
A Celebration of Life service will be held on June 29 at 11 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, Fernandina Beach, Fla.