Marcella Jo Hamilton was born March 9th, 1938, in Mexia, Texas to Lonnie and Florence Barham. She passed away peacefully surrounded by her family singing hymns on September 19th, 2026.

Jo met the blue-eyed love of her life Frank in Bonneville, Arkansas. They soon married on May 9, 1957. Frank and Jo soon began to grow their family. They started out by having 2 beautiful daughters Sandra and Rita, 15 months apart. Three years later they would get ready to welcome another precious baby but surprisingly enough to both Frank and Jo, they welcomed a set of twins, Danny and Tammy, then 2 and half years later they had an energetic boy, Gary, to bring up the rear. Frank and Jo raised their children to love and honor the Lord. They all attended White City Baptist Church, where Jo began to teach children's church and fell in love with teaching kiddos about the love of Jesus. Over the many years of teaching children, many fell in love with "mamaw" Jo and "Papaw" Frank and they gained many many adoptive grandchildren. She was faithful to host many children and their families for easter egg hunts, Sunday dinners and many other occasions. After their children were grown, they attended and served at Camden Baptist Temple several years and later began to attend Eagle Mills First Baptist Church where Jo continued to teach children the love of Jesus for many years.

In addition to raising their own children, they managed to help raise all of Jo's siblings and helped them all to achieve the goals of their life. Jo worked at General Dynamics for 25 plus years. After retirement Jo never slowed down, she continued to be a caregiver for her mother-in-law and many others for many years. Jo also took a lot of pride in being a "pink" lady/volunteer at the Ouachita County Hospital.

Mamaw Jo had a way with words and over the years she has written many poems about her journey in life, including poems about her grandchildren and even a poem that is still read to this day in our family homes for Christmas about the birth of our savior!

Marcella is preceded in death by the love of her life Franklin, Parents Lonnie and Florence Barham, In Laws Lois and Mary Hamilton, Her Precious Daughter Tammy, Granddaughter Melanie Stinnett, Sister Joyce, Brother Jerry, Brother Jimmy Dale, Brother Johnny Ray, Son in Law Billy, Brother in law Dale and wife Gracie, Sister in law Mary, Brother in law Jimmy and wife Sheila and 3 Great Grandbabies and 3 Great Great Grandbabies.

Marcella is survived by Daughter Sandra Stinnett and husband Leslie, Daughter Rita Stinnett, Son Danny Hamilton and wife Casey, son in law Mike Dodson, Son Gary Hamilton and wife Pam. Brother Lonnie Barham and wife Ginny, Sister Pat Alexander and husband Clay, Ten Grandchildren, Brother-in-law Johnny Hamilton, Sister-in-law Linda Hodnett. Twenty-four Great Grandchildren, Eleven Great Great Grandchildren, A host of nieces and nephews and in laws and adopted grandchildren.

Special thanks to the Healthcare workers in the unit "The Neighborhood " at Silver Oaks and Gentiva Hospice.

We all rest assured that Marcella "Mamaw Jo" entered the gates of Heaven and heard "WELL DONE THY GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT" 

A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at 10:00AM, at Proctor Funeral Home, will interment at Missouri Cemetery. There will be a visitation on Monday, September 21, 2026, from 6:00PM-8:00PM.