Vernell Hamil

Evans, GA – Entered into rest on Friday, January 19, 2024, Mrs. Vernell Smith Hamil, 92, loving wife of 59 years to the late William Grady Hamil.

Nell, “GiGi” to her many children and grandchildren, was born and proudly raised in Alabama with eight siblings on a large working family farm, with life predominated by hard work, fun times, and faith. For her entire life she loved, lived for and happily served her family. After marrying her high school love Grady in 1949, she saw the world through Grady’s U.S. Army career travel, ultimately settling in Augusta, Georgia, her home for more than half a century. In addition to raising four children, she worked and retired as a Quality Control Technician with the Kendall Company. She was a longtime member of Sherwood Baptist Church. She was a loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother.

Nell will be fondly remembered by those who love her for many things that made her unique and wonderful, including her snappy dry wit and infectious laugh; her annual presentation of amazing sausage pinwheels and a ridiculous number of perfectly wrapped gifts that made Christmas morning pure joy and chaos with no place for thrilled grandkids to sit; her passion for reading pretty much anything, slight addiction to cross word puzzles and intermittent attachment to the game of Bingo; the way her face would instantly light up, and the way she lit up the room, with the perfect harmonies of her raspy Alabama voice performing “I’ll Fly Away” with Grady and his brother David Hamil; long voice messages randomly expounding many events of the day that conveyed in summary that all was well; and, most of all that she was always there, to visit, share, help, or otherwise show her love.

Living family members include her son: Craig Hamil (Beth); daughters: Patsy Hamil, Janice Murphy (the late Bill), and Lee Little (Kevin); grandchildren: Jennifer Nixon (Jason), Adam Murphy, Reese Little, Carys Little, Summer Young (Matt),  and Joel McKinney; great-grandchildren: Carson Nixon, Emma Murphy, Savannah Roberts, Kayla McKinney, Banks Young, and Liam Young; great great grandson Weston Gray; siblings Charlene (Robert), Helen (David) and Geneva (the late Stan). She was preceded in death by infant daughter Toni Barbette Hamil and siblings Jean Murphy (George), Elvis Wilson (Shirley - living), Betty Hopper (Edsel), Josephine Jerkins (Leon) and Walter Joe Smith (Sandra).

A celebration of Nell’s life will be held Tuesday, January 23, 2024, at 2:00 P.M. in the chapel of Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors with Chaplain Jeff Flowers officiating. Interment will follow in Hillcrest Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, from 1:00 PM until the time of the service. A live stream of the service may be viewed at https://view.oneroomstreaming.com/index.php?data=MTcwNjAzNzI5NzI5MjEyNyZvbmVyb29tLWFkbWluJmNvcHlfbGluaw==

Memorial contributions may be made to American Heart Association by mail to PO Box 840692, Dallas, TX 75284-0692 or online at https://www.heart.org/.

Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors, 214 Davis Rd., Augusta, GA 30907 (706) 364-8484.