Phina Curcio Hamilton’s life will be celebrated on Tuesday, June 18, at 10: 30 a.m., at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Greenville, MS, with visitation beginning at 9:30 a.m. She passed away on Friday, June 14, while surrounded by family. Burial will follow in the Greenville Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Boone Funeral Home, Greenville.
A native of Shelby, MS, Phina was born on July 6, 1923 to the late Alex and Vincenza “Zenie” Curcio and had one sibling, the late Mary Jo Evancho Zaydon. Phina attended Mississippi University for Women where she received a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Home Economics. She later became a registered dietitian.
Phina taught nutrition to the medical students at the University of Alabama in Birmingham where she met her late husband, Herman Nelson Hamilton, M.D. After marrying, the couple moved to various cities across the south before settling in Scott, MS, where Dr. Hamilton worked as the physician for Delta & Pine Land Company. In the late 1950’s they moved Greenville, MS.
In addition to being a devoted wife and incredible mother to seven children, Phina was very involved with St. Joseph’s Catholic Church where she led several prayer groups. She used her talents to help maintain the church’s beautiful landscape and to paint impressionistic works of art for fundraisers. She was a member of the Colonial Garden Club and the Greenville Junior Auxiliary.
Phina is survived by her children, Mary Madeleine “MaeMae” McGee (Monty) of Greenville, MS, Nelson Hamilton of Hoover, AL, Malinda McCafferty (Jim) of McComb, MS, Thomas Hamilton (Janet) of New York, NY, John Hamilton, M.D., Margot Hamilton, and Martha Davidson, all of Fairhope, AL; grandchildren, Hamilton McGee, M.D. (Margie) of Greenville, Mary Madeleine Koury (Michael) of Oxford, MS, Bess McCafferty of Los Angeles, CA, Jack McCafferty (Sarah) and Sadie McCafferty, all of San Antonio, TX, Martha McCafferty and Emmy McCafferty, both of McComb, MS, Kasey Hamilton of New York, NY, Madeleine Hallum (Elliott) of Murfreesboro, TN, Jonathan Hamilton of Fairhope, AL, Ashley Weilenman of New Orleans, LA, Alex Hamilton of Fairhope, AL, Joseph Davidson of Mobile, AL, Paula Davidson of Tacoma, WA, and Jacqueline Davidson of Fairhope, AL; and great-grandchildren, Hamilton McGee, Phina Kathryn and Forte Koury, and James and Ethan Hallum.
The family would like to thank caregiver Rhonda Williams, who Phena often referred to as “her favorite child”, caregiver Leslie Wise, and the staff at Washington Care Center who showed great love to their mother.
Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN or St. Joseph Catholic Church, Greenville, MS.