John Ray Hamilton, Jr.

John Ray Hamilton, Jr., 72, passed away at North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo on Friday, January 6, 2023.  He was born on April 23, 1950 in Phenix City, Alabama to the late John Ray Hamilton, Sr. and Twillie Honeycutt Hamilton.  A life long resident of Monroe County, John Ray was a graduate of Hamilton High School class of 1968.  He married Bernice McGarrh on January 29, 1971.  John Ray worked himself up to the position of DCS Programmer at Westlake Chemical in Aberdeen.  After 44 years, he retired in 2016 and worked for Irvin Electric in the same position he held while at Westlake.  John Ray loved to bass fish and was a former president of Mississippi Bass Federation.  He was also a member of Aberdeen Tenn-Tom Bassmasters.  Above all, John Ray was a Christian and felt a calling to surrender to the ministry.  He faithfully served as Pastor of Bethel Baptist Church in Aberdeen.  He dearly loved his family and loved every moment he was able to spend with them.  

John Ray is survived by his wife, Bernice McGarrh Hamilton of Aberdeen; daughter, Jan Patrick (Paul), Iuka, MS; sons, John Hamilton III (Jennifer), Senatobia and Billy Hamilton (Stacey), Hamilton; sister, Cathy Bynum (Steve), Oxford; brothers, Ronnie Hamilton (Jan), Hoover, AL and Randie Hamilton (Sandra), Duck Hill, MS; grandchildren, Caileigh Hamilton, John Daniel Hamilton, Elias Hamilton, Brayden Hamilton, Ethan Patrick and Maeley Patrick; a host of nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents.

Funeral Services will be held at 3 PM on Monday, January 9, 2023 at Tisdale Lann Memorial Funeral Home in Aberdeen with Bro. George Collins officiating.  Burial will follow in Odd Fellows Rest Cemetery.  Pallbearers will be TW Sanderson, Willie Malone, Andy Wilson, Earl Gilreath, Tommy Williams and Jerry Spruill.  Honorary pallbearers will be Chuck Davidson, Jerry Smith, Billy Tiffin, Kenneth Mobley, Charles Kornegy, Bill Malone and Bobby Fretwell.  

Visitation will be on Monday prior to the service from 1 PM until 2:45 PM.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Condolences may be shared at tisdalelannmemorialfuneralhome.com.