Obituary for Elder Theodore Hamilton
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Elder Theodore Hamilton was born on August 31, 1942, in Washington, D.C. to the late Osborne and Mary Hamilton. He was the 11th of 17 children born to this union. Unfortunately, both parents passed away before he turned 9 years old. But God knew he needed loving care and sent paternal aunts Alberta Hamilton and Eloise Scott to raise him.
Elder Hamilton was educated in District of Columbia Public Schools. He graduated from Armstrong Technical High School and completed training in electronics at Lincoln Technical Institute. He put these skills into practice as a Generator Operator the in U.S. Army from 1964 to 1967, During that time, he was deployed to serve his country in Vietnam.
In 1967, Elder Hamilton met and married the love of his life, Missionary Mother Mildred Hamilton. Together they raised a large, beautiful family. He was the father of six children, nine grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. He was a family man. At home he loved watching history and cooking channels, but most of all he loved reading God’s Word.
Elder Hamilton was a true entrepreneur. He operated “Ted’s Ice Cream” truck in Capital Heights and District Heights, Maryland. He was well known for his hot dogs and sausages dripping with onions, chili, and cheese. He took pride in serving the community with his wife. She made cakes and sweet potato pies for his customers.
Elder Hamilton was known as the barbecue king! Ribs and chicken were his specialty. For many years at the National Convention in Atlanta, he traded his suit for a t-shirt and spent all day Saturday over a hot grill making delicious barbecue for hundreds of delegates. His love of serving the saints was infectious. If you worked with him, he taught you not only how to cook, but how to serve God’s people with joy.
Elder Hamilton held many jobs over the years. He was a truck driver for Virginia Paper Company and the Lobe Company, and a selector for Grand Union warehouse. His entrepreneurial spirit led to his pride and joy: Hamilton’s Limousine service. He served many funeral homes in the Washington D.C. area. And because he dedicated his life to service, he used the vehicles God blessed him with to transport the saints of God in style for weddings and church events. He drove members to fellowship with sister churches in New York City, Philadelphia, Norfolk, and to the National Convention of the Churches of God Holiness in Atlanta.
Elder Hamilton’s affiliation with the Convention spans more than half a century. He joined Bethlehem Church of God Holiness in Washington DC in 1970. Over the next 12 years he served as a senior usher, deacon, and Sunday school teacher for class number eight. For 15 years he was assistant Sunday School Superintendent, followed by two years as Superintendent. Elder Hamilton also sang with the Gospel Harmonizers. Upon hearing the call in 1982, Elder Hamilton began ministering to the saints of God as a licensed local minister. In August 1998, he was ordained as an Elder by the National Convention of the Churches of God Holiness. Two years later, he was appointed pastor of Mount Zion Church of God in Buffalo, New York.
Elder Hamilton loved God and the saints. His ministry was winning souls for Christ and sharing the gospel. His heart, his love, and his life was in Buffalo. He encouraged believers to always acknowledge “Thine, O Lord, is the greatness in the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty for all that is in heaven, and in the Earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, Oh Lord, and thou art exalted as above all (1 Corinthians 29:11). He taught his congregation to “Trust in the Lord and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land and verify thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him, and he shall bring it to pass.” (Psalm 37:3-5)
Elder Hamilton recognized early in life that his God-given talent and purpose was working with his hands and serving people, and he loved doing it. As a soldier, chef, driver, preacher and father, he was a living example of using what God gave him to enrich the lives of everyone around him - and he did it with much joy. For his family, and all who knew him, Elder Hamilton leaves a legacy of hard work, hospitality and Holiness.
On December 8, 2023, Elder Hamilton slipped away peacefully in the early morning hour with his loving family by his side. He is survived by his devoted loving wife Mildred; one sister Betty Ann; five daughters, Sandra Craggette (Tim), Mildred Williams (Alvarado), Marlene Johnson (Jay R), Karen Bowie (Ed), and Indira Hamilton; daughter-in-law Sonja Hamilton; nine grandchildren, Kimberly Cofer (Samuel), Gregory Williams, Ivanja Hamilton, Iesha Hamilton, Ishona Bennett, Lawrence Johnson, Edmund Bowie, London Johnson, and Savannah Hamilton; seven great grandchildren, Kamari Southerland, Kameron Cofer, Samantha Cofer, Isaiah Ruffin, Elijah Ruffin, Nasir Bridges, and Baby Johnson; Godchildren Lashawn Green, John Tally III, Joseph Vanzago, Peewee Kabah, Melvin Brown, Tracy Waters, and Kearsten Beckman; and a host of nephews, nieces, cousin, family, and friends. He is preceded in death by ten brothers, five sisters, and his beloved son Ivan Hamilton.
Elder Theodore Hamilton was born on August 31, 1942, in Washington, D.C. to the late Osborne and Mary Hamilton. He was the 11th of 17 children born to this union. Unfortunately, both parents passed away before he turned 9 years old. But God knew he needed loving care and sent paternal aunts Alberta Hamilton and Eloise Scott to raise him.
Elder Hamilton was educated in District of Columbia Public Schools. He graduated from Armstrong Technical High School and completed training in electronics at Lincoln Technical Institute. He put these skills into practice as a Generator Operator the in U.S. Army from 1964 to 1967, During that time, he was deployed to serve his country in Vietnam.
In 1967, Elder Hamilton met and married the love of his life, Missionary Mother Mildred Hamilton. Together they raised a large, beautiful family. He was the father of six children, nine grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. He was a family man. At home he loved watching history and cooking channels, but most of all he loved reading God’s Word.
Elder Hamilton was a true entrepreneur. He operated “Ted’s Ice Cream” truck in Capital Heights and District Heights, Maryland. He was well known for his hot dogs and sausages dripping with onions, chili, and cheese. He took pride in serving the community with his wife. She made cakes and sweet potato pies for his customers.
Elder Hamilton was known as the barbecue king! Ribs and chicken were his specialty. For many years at the National Convention in Atlanta, he traded his suit for a t-shirt and spent all day Saturday over a hot grill making delicious barbecue for hundreds of delegates. His love of serving the saints was infectious. If you worked with him, he taught you not only how to cook, but how to serve God’s people with joy.
Elder Hamilton held many jobs over the years. He was a truck driver for Virginia Paper Company and the Lobe Company, and a selector for Grand Union warehouse. His entrepreneurial spirit led to his pride and joy: Hamilton’s Limousine service. He served many funeral homes in the Washington D.C. area. And because he dedicated his life to service, he used the vehicles God blessed him with to transport the saints of God in style for weddings and church events. He drove members to fellowship with sister churches in New York City, Philadelphia, Norfolk, and to the National Convention of the Churches of God Holiness in Atlanta.
Elder Hamilton’s affiliation with the Convention spans more than half a century. He joined Bethlehem Church of God Holiness in Washington DC in 1970. Over the next 12 years he served as a senior usher, deacon, and Sunday school teacher for class number eight. For 15 years he was assistant Sunday School Superintendent, followed by two years as Superintendent. Elder Hamilton also sang with the Gospel Harmonizers. Upon hearing the call in 1982, Elder Hamilton began ministering to the saints of God as a licensed local minister. In August 1998, he was ordained as an Elder by the National Convention of the Churches of God Holiness. Two years later, he was appointed pastor of Mount Zion Church of God in Buffalo, New York.
Elder Hamilton loved God and the saints. His ministry was winning souls for Christ and sharing the gospel. His heart, his love, and his life was in Buffalo. He encouraged believers to always acknowledge “Thine, O Lord, is the greatness in the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty for all that is in heaven, and in the Earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, Oh Lord, and thou art exalted as above all (1 Corinthians 29:11). He taught his congregation to “Trust in the Lord and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land and verify thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him, and he shall bring it to pass.” (Psalm 37:3-5)
Elder Hamilton recognized early in life that his God-given talent and purpose was working with his hands and serving people, and he loved doing it. As a soldier, chef, driver, preacher and father, he was a living example of using what God gave him to enrich the lives of everyone around him - and he did it with much joy. For his family, and all who knew him, Elder Hamilton leaves a legacy of hard work, hospitality and Holiness.
On December 8, 2023, Elder Hamilton slipped away peacefully in the early morning hour with his loving family by his side. He is survived by his devoted loving wife Mildred; one sister Betty Ann; five daughters, Sandra Craggette (Tim), Mildred Williams (Alvarado), Marlene Johnson (Jay R), Karen Bowie (Ed), and Indira Hamilton; daughter-in-law Sonja Hamilton; nine grandchildren, Kimberly Cofer (Samuel), Gregory Williams, Ivanja Hamilton, Iesha Hamilton, Ishona Bennett, Lawrence Johnson, Edmund Bowie, London Johnson, and Savannah Hamilton; seven great grandchildren, Kamari Southerland, Kameron Cofer, Samantha Cofer, Isaiah Ruffin, Elijah Ruffin, Nasir Bridges, and Baby Johnson; Godchildren Lashawn Green, John Tally III, Joseph Vanzago, Peewee Kabah, Melvin Brown, Tracy Waters, and Kearsten Beckman; and a host of nephews, nieces, cousin, family, and friends. He is preceded in death by ten brothers, five sisters, and his beloved son Ivan Hamilton.