Hamil remembered for faith, selflessness
Robert Morris Hamil is remembered by friends and family will be remembered for his willingness to help others and his strong Christian faith.
Hamil was killed on March 30 while changing a tire on the side of Highway 16 after coming back from providing tornado relief to victims in the Delta.
“Everyone who came in contact with him loved him. He always had a smile on his face because he was full of Jesus,” his wife, Lexie Hamil, said. “The world is a lot dimmer because he’s not in it. But he’s made an impact on people that will live on forever. He leaves behind two girls that thought the world of him.”
His two young daughters are Harper and Hayden Hamil.
His relaxation was being around and loving on his two young daughters. They loved seeing their dad walk in the door with his floppy hat, sweaty T-shirt, worn out work pants and boots his wide open arms embracing them.”
His parents are Bob Hamil and Jeanne English Hamil. The Hamil family is best known locally for Mama Hamil’s, a popular lunch spot for many in Madison. The family says Robert enjoyed working with his dad and peers as well as other family members at the restaurant and was “always greeting patrons with his attentive smile.”
The restaurant was closed on Monday for Hamil’s funeral service.
“He’s seen the impact his Dad had on the Madison community and wanted to be the exact same,” Lexie said.
He ran a construction company, Hamil’s Construction.
“All he wanted was to make people happy and take care of his family,” his wife said.
Madison Mayor Mary Hawkins Butler said “there are no words” in a social media post on March 31 responding to Hamil’s death. Butler offered her prayers for the Hamil family.
“Life is not fair,” she wrote. “But we know who holds the key to peace. We know who Robert has seen. We know that our sweet Jesus has wrapped him in His arms. He is living the promises of our Christ. He is in awe of the Heaven we have only heard about, it is real. One day we will be chosen to come home. Your son will be there at the gate when we arrive. What a glorious day that will be. Until then we will keep the faith that our Lord can heal our pain and give us peace. Because He lives, so does your son. We love and pray for y’all.”
According to reports, Hamil, 27, of Flora, was fatally wounded on March 30, while changing a tire on Highway 16 East near Vaughn Road in. Yazoo County.
Hamil and his wife went to Rolling Fork on Saturday after the tornado early in the morning. They brought a truck full of construction equipment and supplies.
“Helping others was a strong trait of Robert,” his family said. “No matter the need or size of the job.”
Rolling Fork, Mississippi, is the county seat of Sharkey County. and is a small town of about 1,800 people. The small town was hit by an EF-4 tornado on the evening of March 24, a Friday. Latest estimates say the tornado killed 26 people and displaced many more.
“My husband would give the shirt off his back to anyone in need. He was full of second chances,” his wife said. “He believed in anyone, no matter if they believed in themselves or not.”
Services for Hamil were held on Monday, April 3, at the First Ridgeland Baptist Church on Jackson Street in Ridgeland where Hamil and his family were members. He was buried at Natchez Trace Cemetary on Highway 51 in Madison.