Opal "Elaine" Erwin Hamilton of Midlothian, Texas (formerly of Hemphill) passed away Sunday, November 26, 2023 at Midtowne Meadows in Midlothian TX.

Elaine was born on July 11th, 1931 in the Goodrich Home in Hemphill Texas to Belvie Erwin and Sally Ruth Holder Erwin. She attended Hemphill ISD where she was a cheerleader and played high school basketball. Her team's picture is proudly displayed above the cashier on the header at  Valero in Beanville.

Upon graduation, her father Belvie, sold a cow and a calf to send her to business school in Beaumont Texas.  After graduation, she went to work for the Salvation Army in their Beaumont office. She played on their softball team and one day her friend and roommate, Billie Sue Chambers, introduced her to the love of her life, O.D. Hamilton Jr.  They were married 3 months later and recently celebrated their 74th Anniversary on May 6th of this year with family and friends.

Elaine and OD lived in Beaumont for many years then moved to Lumberton in 1968.  A job promotion for OD with Santa Fe Railroad took them to live in Mansfield TX in 1974.  Upon his retirement, they moved back to Elaine's hometown of Hemphill  in 1986.  As their life advanced in years, they moved to Midlothian TX in November 2020 to be close to their daughter, Candy Shuffitt and family, to be loved and cared for until her passing.

Elaine spent most of her life as a Housewife, Mother, MaMa, and Great MaMa.  She worked as the church secretary for First Baptist Church Loeb in Lumberton TX and as a clerk at Western Auto with her best friend and owner, Betty Seeton in Mansfield TX.

She was known for her cooking and volunteering.  She was very involved with Fehl Elementary PTA and a Blue Bird Leader in Beaumont TX,

She was member of Order of the Eastern Star Chapter #375, Grand Chapter of Texas, Hemphill TX, Texas Baptist Mens Builders, Election Clerk, Cooked for the Youth Trips for First Baptist Church Hemphill, Vacation Bible, Fundraisers for Youth and other events at FBC Hemphill.  She was also on the Board of Director's and served as secretary for the Little Flock Cemetery Association.

Elaine was preceded in death by parents, Belvie and Ruth Holder Erwin, her husband of 74 years 5 months, Ommer Dean Hamilton Jr.; daughter, Cassandra (Casi) Hamilton Harrison; and granddaughter, Christina Elaine Bird.

She is survived by daughters, Cynthia (Cindy) Bell of Lafayette, LA, Candace (Candy) Shuffitt and husband, Larry, of Venus TX; grandchildren, Ken Harrison, Jr. and wife, Stephanie, Tammie Harrison Lang,  April Shuffitt Cunningham and husband, Jason, Melanie Elaine Shuffitt Barber and husband, Michael, Michelle Shuffitt Freeman and husband, Wayne;   great grandchildren, Victoria Lang, Grant Freeman and wife, Olivia, Zach Lang and wife, Paige, Evan Freeman, Kyle Lang, Matthew Barber, Madison Elaine Barber, Jace Bruton, Morgan Cunningham, Maddox Barber, and Jaxson Bruton; and great great granddaughter and light of her life, Ivy Lucille Freeman.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Friday, December 1, 2023 at Starr Funeral Home, 510 Starr Street, Hemphill, Texas.

Funeral services will begin at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, December 2, 2023 in Starr Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Troy Richardson officiating.

Burial will follow services in Little Flock Cemetery.

Memories and condolence may be shared at starrfuneralhome.com.