On February 9, 2020, God decided that it was time for Mrs. Joan Hamilton to rest in Him from her labor here on earth. She had been a devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, and friend. A lifelong educator, Mrs. Hamilton nurtured and poured into hundreds of children during her career. Her advocacy for the rights of special needs children was well known, admired and respected in the education arena.

Joan was preceded in death by her parents (James and Lavene), husband (Paul Hamilton), daughter (Valerie Claud), grand-nephew (Jonathan Payton), sister (Dolores Johnson), and her brother (James Robinson). Joan entered the world on November 3, 1931 in Norfolk, VA to the parents of Mr. James and Lavene Robinson, as their second oldest daughter. Their home was filled with much joy, laughter and fun. Joan's mother Lavene declared her daughter to be a miracle. During the year of 1933, several children in her community had been stricken with rheumatic fever. However, Joan was the only one to survive this devastating disease. Permanent damage was left to her heart and she was often sick. That sickness didn't stop her from learning and being active in her community.

Joan's developmental years were in the Lambert Port community and at First Baptist Church. There she participated on the usher board, Tom Thumb weddings, and many other social and community events held by the church. Joan was baptized at the age of seven years old and became a life-long member of the First Baptist Church of Lamberts Point. Her passions of reading and writing were developed at J.J. Smallwood Elementary School and continued at Booker T. Washington High School where she graduated in the class of 1948.

Joan's dream was always to be a teacher. This passion was instilled in her early by her mother.

The family faced apprehension regarding her going away to college to further her education. She North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and received a BA degree in in Elementary Education. Later, Joan attended Hampton University and obtained a Masters of Arts degree. Joan achieved her dream of being a teacher in the Norfolk Public School System. She was later promoted to visiting teacher. A life-long learn, Joan completed all course requirements for her doctoral degree before her retirement. Her impetus for retirement was to devote her attention to plan her daughter, Valerie's wedding. She was a devoted mother and served as a mother figure to several young people.

Her love for students, parents and colleagues were well documented in the various schools where she worked and the many lives that she touched. Joan was a founding member of the Virginia Beach Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. and served in various leadership capacities and was active in many organizations in the Urban League and Civil Rights activism. She was fortunate to have met the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Joan had many talents and loved gardening, sewing and encouraging others. She always strived to encourage others to do and be their best. Joan will be greatly missed but never forgotten.

Left to cherish her memory are her beloved granddaughter Ms. Ryian Claud, her brothers Mr. Ronald Robinson and Mr. Rolfe Robinson, her nieces Dr. Winifred Phillips, Dr. Kathy Everett (Marshal), Mrs. Sabina Doxie (Joseph), nephews Mr. Kenneth Hamilton and Mr. James Robinson, III, Mr. Walter Hamilton (Marva), Mr. Keith Hamilton and Glenda Foreman (Robert); grand nephews, Mr. Devon Hall, Mr. Derrick Hall, Mr. Demetri Hall (Crystal), Mr. Terry Wayne Parker, II, grandnieces Dr. Vanessa Sheppard (Earle), Mrs. Vene Artis (Gury) and a host of great-grand nieces, nephews, family and friends.