James Kern Hamilton, Sr.

Funeral service for James Kern Hamilton, Sr. of Mansura will begin at 1:00 pm on Monday, July 3, 2023, at Escude Funeral Home in Mansura with Fr. Blake Deshautelle officiating. Burial & military honors will follow at St. Joseph #2 Cemetery in Marksville.  A reception following the burial will be held at the Washington Street Hope Center Bon Temps Center.  Visitation will begin at 9:00am until 1:00pm on Monday, July 3, 2023, at Escude Funeral Home in Mansura.

James Hamilton, age 96, passed away on Thursday, June 29, 2023. Mr. Hamilton, affectionately known as ‘Buddy’, was born in 1927, the youngest of a family of 8 siblings in Sheridan, Arkansas. Mr. Jim spent most of his 96 years as a selfless servant.  He served his country across two wars, serving in two branches of the military.  He first served as an 18-year-old in the Navy at the end of World War II.  He later served as an Army officer in the Korean War where he was severely wounded and later discharged as a decorated veteran.

Throughout the subsequent years he served his community as a high school teacher, football coach, and small business owner. 

His legacy of service continued to the very end of his life as the co-founder and administrator of the Washington Street Hope Center, a substance abuse treatment center in Marksville.  The founding of the Hope Center, with his wife, ‘Miss Jo’, and its continued operation over the past 33 years would not have been possible without his unflinching and dedicated support.  After his wife’s death in 2015, Mr. Jim continued the service of the Hope Center as its Executive Director.  From the age of 88 until his death at age 96, Mr. Jim was in the office every day, faithfully directing the activities.  Because of this unflinching service, the Hope Center, under the direction of Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton has helped thousands of people within our local communities and will continue to do so after his passing. 

Those left to cherish his memory are his sons: James Kern Hamilton, Jr. of Arnaudville, LA (wife Debbie), Robert Ray ‘Bobby’ Hamilton of Bunkie (wife Denice), Daniel Corkery ‘Danny’ Hamilton of Cottonport (wife Donelle), Ed Hunter Hamilton of Richmond, TX (wife Debbie); his daughter, Mary Jo Hamilton of Mount Shasta, CA; 15 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Josephine Saucier Hamilton; his daughter, Amanda Marie Burns; and his granddaughter, Amber Marie Armand; parents, Ed Hamilton & Safronia Gwin Hamilton; siblings: Carl Barnes, Lars E. “Big Boy” Hamilton, James Dale Hamilton, Grace Hamilton Hulse, Hartford Ray Hamilton, Ed Hamilton, Jr., & Lula Faye Hamilton Gibson; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The Hamilton Family would like to thank the staff of the Hope Center, with special mention to Mrs. Chasity Byrne and Mr. Steven Burgess, for their caring commitment to our dad in his later years as he continued in the service of those in need.

In lieu of flowers, the Hamilton Family asks that donations to the Hope Center be considered.    

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Escude Funeral Home (318-964-2324) 6608 Porterie St, Mansura, LA  71350.