By Steve Holt, Staff Writer
With memories, songs and prayer, family and friends of Tiffany Monique Hamilton celebrated her life Tuesday in Moody Coliseum.
During the celebration, students and family used a variety of ways to honor the life of Hamilton, 22, who died Sept. 3 after a bout with pneumonia.
“She had a special place in her heart for siblings, a special place for parents and a special place for her friends,” said Derrick Hamilton, Tiffany’s younger brother, one of her 12 siblings. “My heart is so heavy. She will be more than missed. I’m just glad I could see her develop into the woman she was here at ACU.”
“The Group,” a men’s a cappella ensemble, opened the celebration with two songs, the first of which declared, “Jesus won’t ever let you down” and the second telling of Jesus’ wiping away mourners’ tears.
Friends Lanita and Marie Thomas shared a touching song medley, praising God and honoring Tiffany.
Wayne Barnard, dean of Campus Life and Tiffany’s former University 100 instructor, shared his memories of the senior interior design major, remembering the importance in her life for faith, family and witnessing. Following Barnard, several of Tiffany’s family members and friends shared their words of remembrance.
A friend and co-worker spoke of the certainty of her eternity.
“She saw the big picture-she knew her true home was in heaven,” she said. “She’s finally able to rest, and she can rest in God’s arms now.”
Younger sister Paige echoed those words.
“Not many people can say they know their sister is going to heaven, but I can,” she said.
Other friends and roommates remembered Tiffany as a helper in tough times, an eager servant and a warrior, and many chose to post messages of encouragement and remembrance on an online message board dedicated to her life.
A video of Tiffany while she was in Montevideo earlier this year displayed her friends and her love for singing, two qualities mentioned several times during the hour-long service.
As an appropriate conclusion to the celebration, the men’s and women’s ensemble “The Ministry” shared two songs, the first of which looked forward to the day when “we shall be changed in the sweet by and by.”
