Vivian Elizabeth Thomas Hamelin, 82, of Blackshear, ended her journey Tuesday, October 14, 2025, at her residence.
She was born April 26, 1943, in Roanoke, West Virginia to the late Ollie Thomas and Martha Patrick Thomas Sykes. She lived the majority of her life in Jacksonville, FLand Blackshear. She worked as a restaurant manager and waitress for Pier 6 in Jacksonville and attended Olivet Baptist Church in Waycross. A loving, caring and selfless wife and mother, she loved her family and cherished any moment she was able to spend with them. Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Duane Saul Hamelin; two granddaughters, Nina Nicole Hamelin and Faith Dawn Hamelin; three brothers, Ollie Thomas, Stephen Grant and James Sykes and two sisters, Sylvia Van Slyke and Dorothy Sykes.
Survived by three sons, David Hamelin and his wife Karen, Duane Hamelin II and Roger Hamelin and his wife Rebekah, all of Blackshear; three daughters, Dawn Martin, Blackshear, Patricia Jones, Sevierville, Tennessee, Delaine Marcy, Marathon, New York; 24 grandchildren, 29 great grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren; a special niece, Tammy Varnum, Liverpool, New York; three brothers and one sister and numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, October 17, from the Miles-Odum Funeral Home Chapel.
Sympathy may be expressed by signing online at www.milesodumfuneralhome.com.
Miles-Odum Funeral Home of Waycross is in charge of arrangements.
