Naomi Hamilton Joyner, caring wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend transitioned into eternity on Monday, August 28, 2023 at the golden age of 89, surrounded by her loved ones.
Naomi Hamilton Joyner was the second child and daughter of Lonnie and Amie Hamilton (both deceased), born on April 9, 1934, in Dillion South Carolina. Her young years were spent in rural Hamer South Carolina where she developed her strong work ethic and Christian beliefs working on the family farm. While in her late twenties, she moved to Virginia where she met the love of her life, Jacob Lafayette Joyner (deceased) and was joined together in holy matrimony. Together, they enjoyed a fruitful life of happiness worshipping and praising God with their twelve children. During this time, they brought their first home on Ann Street in Portsmouth, VA, there, they enjoyed their life together.
God called Naomi’s husband Jacob home to rest early in their marriage with their youngest child only being three months old. Naomi, now widowed, went on to raise her twelve children as a single parent. Prior to the death of her husband Jacob, Naomi was a housewife. After losing her husband at an early age, she secured a job outside of the home with Maryview Medical Center, located in Portsmouth Virginia, where she worked for more than 30 years and retired. Naomi loved to travel, especially flying on an airplane; she loved to cook; she adored whenever she had the opportunity to spend time with her children, grand grandchildren, sisters and brothers. Just hearing their voices and seeing their pictures brought her joy.
As the mother of her church, Faith Cornerstone located in Suffolk Virginia for more than 30 years, she was a spiritual advisor, marriage counselor, friend and strong financial supporter of the church. Bishop and First Lady Williams, Founders of Faith Cornerstone, Suffolk VA, were very important to Mother Joyner. She would spend hours talking to First Lady Williams on the phone. They were like sisters. Both Bishop and First Lady pre-deceased Mother Joyner. After their death, Mother Joyner developed a beautiful relationship with their daughter Sister Lilly she called her. Sister Lilly would have dinner at Mother Joyner’s house almost every Sunday. She loved to bake specialty cakes and share her home cook meals with family and friends. Naomi also made the best sweet potato pies, biscuits, and fried chicken. During the holidays, Naomi would bake up to 20 pies to give whole pies away to family and friends. Often times, Naomi would cook numerous cakes, donate them to her church. She believed in family gathering on Sundays, holidays and special events. When her family came together, and it was often, her home was full, loud, and had standing room only. She would ensure all who wanted to be part of the special event were there. Naomi would spend hours on the phone calling everyone to get the word out to come over. It was magical. Just the way she liked it. Her sisters and brothers from South Carolina, North Carolina and New York, often times would come on holidays and other special occasions. She would many times travel to South Carolina to be part of the annual family reunion. Naomi would also spend hours on the phone with her best friend she met while working at Maryview Hospital. They were friends for more than 40 years. We called her Ms. Emma.
Naomi leaves behind one brother, Henry Hamilton (Edna), and three sisters, Frances Smith (Chal), Amy Washington (Joe/deceased), and Louise McDaniel (Willie). She has two brothers and one sister that pre-deceased her in death. Robert C Hamilton (Ya/deceased), June Hamilton (deceased)/Ruth Mae and her loving oldest sister, Wilena Bethea (Frank) both deceased.
Naomi’s brothers and sisters though marriage, Alfred Joyner (Alice) both deceased, James Joyner (Sanay-Bell) both deceased, Dillard Joyner (deceased), Quient Joyner (Earlene/deceased), Theresa Gay (Henry) both deceased, Laura Joyner (Clinton) both deceased, Gladys Robinson (Lawrence) both deceased, and Julia Harris (Johnnie/deceased).
Naomi was a mother of twelve children, Mary(Sandy), Louella (deceased)/Ray, Debbie, James(Jackie/deceased), Lonnie, Angela (Andrew), Denise (Earl), Lavasier (Ann), Dorothy (Clarence), Thressia, Kim and Calvin (Taryn). Grandchildren, Lisa White, Patricia White, Joseph White, David White, RayLynn Best, Kimberly Best, Dominic Wright, Marcus Bell, Loletta Bowden, Valencia Matthew, Lydia Joyner, Latrice Joyner, Angie Alston, Pedro Joyner, Tomika Alston, Bernie Alston, Marquis (Isaiah) Roberts, Mya Roberts, Jacob Joyner, Kendrick Robinson, Latosha Robinson, Jaccara Sandanski, Tiffany Joyner, (Lavasier daughter), Jamar Joyner, Anthony Joyner, Jackie Joyner, James Joyner, Tiffany Joyner, Terrell Joyner, Christopher Joyner, Toya Joyner, Amy Joyner, Giovani Conner and Cosima Joyner; and a host of great, great-great grands, nieces, nephews and friends.
During her life she was impactful and a blessing as she served so many. Always willing to share a helping hand, a prayer, message of hope, a message of faith and message of God’s unconditional love.
Naomi lived her life as documented in the gospel of Mark 10:45:
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). These words were spoken by the Son of God on a day when his disciples needed a proper perspective on servanthood (Mark 10:36) and when a blind man cried out for mercy (Mark 10:51). The son of God, surrounded by endless requests and wearied by miles of walking looked need squarely in the face and asked, “What do you want me to do for you?” (Mark 10:51). He saw the burden another carried and offered to help with the load. That was the spirit of Naomi!
Now this beautiful servant, can rest! Well done, thou good and faithful servant. You have finished the course and kept the faith! Enter the gates of heaven where there is a place Jesus has prepared for you!
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