BLACKSHEAR — Mrs. 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. Mrs. Hamelin lived the majority of her life in Jacksonville, Fla., and 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, Mrs. Hamelin loved her family and cherished any moment she was able to spend with them.
Along with her parents, she was also 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.
Mrs. Hamelin is survived by three sons, David Hamelin and his wife, Karen, of Blackshear, Duane Hamelin II of Blackshear, and Roger Hamelin and his wife, Rebekah, of Blackshear; three daughters, Dawn Martin of Blackshear, Patricia Jones of Sevierville, Tenn., and Delaine Marcy of Marathon, N.Y; 24 grandchildren; 29 great grandchildren; three great-great grandchildren; a special niece, Tammy Varnum of Liverpool, N.Y.; three brothers and one sister, and numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives.
A memorial service was held Friday, October 17 in the Miles-Odum Funeral Home Chapel.
Sympathy may be expressed by signing online at www.milesodumfuneralhome. com.
Hamelin
