Mary Naomi Barber Hamilton

Mary Naomi Barber Hamilton, 91, of Lexington, NC died peacefully Wednesday, December 14, 2011, at her home after a lengthy illness.  She was born September 7, 1920 in Salisbury, NC, to the late Thomas D and Mary Ethel Barber.  She graduated in 1937 as Valedictorian of her class at Boyden High School in Salisbury, NC.   On August 21, 1938 she was united in marriage to the Reverend John R Hamilton and they began a ministry together in the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church for 41 years, serving 10 churches.  Upon retirement, they settled in Lexington NC and were active in First United Methodist Church as well as the community.   She was predeceased by her husband in 2004. She is survived by three children:  John R Hamilton, Jr. and his wife, Mary Ann Hamilton of Lynn, NC; Anne Hamilton Terry and her husband, James J Terry of Colleyville TX; and Susan Hamilton McCarl and her husband Col (Ret) James M McCarl of Burke, VA.   She has 6 surviving grandchildren:  Sean Hamilton of Lexington, NC; Melissa Fuhrman of Norwalk IA; James J Terry III of Richmond VA; Kirstie Hamilton Anderson of Denton, NC; Matthew McCarl of Alexandria, VA;  and Mary Beth Wise of Fairfax, VA; John R. Hamilton, III of Asheville, NC She was predeceased by her granddaughter, Cara M Hamilton of Raleigh, NC.   She has seven great grandchildren.   Services will be held at 2 pm Sunday, December 18, 2011 at First United Methodist Church in Lexington NC followed by interment at the Lexington City Cemetery. The family will have a visitation on Saturday evening, December 17, 2011 at the Davidson Funeral Home from 6 to 8 pm.    Online condolences may be made at www.davidsonfuneralhome.net