Ellen Hamilton

Ellen Fay Hilton Hamilton was born on June 30, 1955, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. She was a compassionate soul whose generous heart touched everyone she met. She was a dedicated paralegal who served the legal community for more than three decades with her remarkable diligence and humble spirit. Her dedication to her profession was recognized by the Metrolina Paralegal Association, where she was named Paralegal of the Year in 2012.

She was an active volunteer in hunger, housing, and healthcare programs, including serving on the board of directors for Samaritan House for four years.

The National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc., Queen City Metropolitan Chapter, gave her the Candace Award for Civic Engagement in 2014.

Ellen was also a charter line member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated, at Hampton University, a testament to her commitment to higher education and sisterhood. She was a member of Charlotte’s Beta Omicron Sigma Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho for more than 40 years, serving in a variety of roles, including advisor to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte’s Nu Rho Chapter.

Ellen attended Brinkley Tenth Grade Center in Jackson, Mississippi before graduating from Callaway Senior High School. She moved to Virginia and went on to graduate from Hampton University in 1977’s New Birth Class with a bachelor’s degree in music education. She taught music appreciation in Trenton, New Jersey. Ellen loved to harmonize when singing, a love she passed on to her daughters. If you were her children, an errant sound may yield, “Get on top of the note!” Upon moving to Charlotte, Ellen was active in the local chapter of the National Hampton Alumni Association for many years.

Her achievements, however, were not confined to her professional life. She was a person of deep faith who believed in the Christian tenet, “Let all that you do be done in love.” (1 Corinthians 16:14) Ellen’s faithful and active Charlotte-area church memberships included Greater Bethel AME Church, Marvin A.M.E. Zion, and Hudson Grove A.M.E. Zion.

For Ellen, family was the cornerstone of her life. She lived in Charlotte and Matthews, North Carolina, for 42 years, making a warm and loving home for her two beautiful and strong daughters. Her utmost joy was being a doting grandmother and her love for her grandchildren, Amir and Taj Weldon, was immeasurable.

Amid her busy life, Ellen made time to build solid connections with family and friends, including co-founding the Mississippi Connection in 1997, an organization that helps people from Mississippi living in Charlotte find a little piece of home.

Ellen's life was a testament to her character — generous, humble, and dedicated. She instilled in her daughters the value of leaving everything better than they found it, a legacy that will continue to inspire generations. Her daughters, Jameil Weldon and Elaina Joy Hamilton, will carry forward their mother's wisdom and love.

Her parents, Alberta and Rev. Jacob W. Hilton Sr. preceded her in death, but their teachings and love live on in Ellen's legacy.

Ellen loved her siblings with the heart of a much-beloved sister before her death on August 30, 2023. One brother, Rev. Jacob W. Hilton Jr., and one sister, Shirley Temple, preceded her in death. Brothers James (Annette) Hilton, David (Barbara) Hilton, and Ferdinand (Natalie) Hilton will miss her dearly. Ellen is also survived by her son-in-law Rashan Weldon, aunt Faynella Carson, Uncle Charlie Hilton, sisters-in-law, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Ellen's life was a beautiful journey that touched many lives including three of her closest friends, Zandra Allen, Lillian Potter-Arnold and Theresa Terry-Williams. She will be dearly missed by all who knew her. These relationships were her cherished treasures.

As we celebrate the life of Ellen Hamilton, we encourage those who knew her to share their memories and upload photos to her memorial page. Let us remember Ellen for the compassionate person she was and celebrate the positive impact she had on all of our lives.

In lieu of flowers, please honor her memory with a donation to the Ellen Hilton Hamilton Memorial Scholarship at Hampton University. Put Ellen Hilton Hamilton Memorial Scholarship in the comments.