Funeral services for Michael Stephen Hamil were conducted at 12:00 Noon on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, at New Hebron Baptist Church with the Reverend Mike Grenn officiating, assisted by the Reverend Andy Fullington. Interment will follow in the New Hebron Cemetery with the Reverend Mike Foster officiating. Military burial rites will be administered by the Honor Guard of the United States Air Force. Mr. Hamil, age 78, entered into the eternal rest of his Lord early Monday morning, October 7, 2024, at his home in Brookhaven, surrounded by those he loved most. Saulters Moore Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.

The Hamil family received friends Wednesday morning beginning at 9 a.m. until the hour of service at 12 noon at New Hebron Baptist Church.

Mr. Hamil was carried to his final rest by his grandsons, Dillon Thurman, Will Thurman, Dalton McHenry, Beau Michael McHenry, Jackson McHenry, John Arthur Brown, Austin Hamil, Ridge Michael Hamil, Cruz Stephen Hamil and Matt Findley. Honorary pallbearers included Chester Foster, Lynn Stinson, Larry Jones, Corey Riley, Taylor Sanders, and members of the Myron Lee Sunday School Class.

Michael Stephen Hamil of Brookhaven, formerly of Silver Creek, was born on September 6, 1946 in Meridian, Mississippi to Leon B. and Lola Lewis Hamil. Mike had a passion and talent for auto body repair, where his meticulous attention to detail earned him a well-deserved reputation in Monticello. As the owner of Hamil’s Body Shop, he poured his heart into every repair and each customer interaction, touching the lives of many within the community. Later, he joined Georgia Pacific, where he dedicated over 25 years of service before retiring, leaving behind a legacy of hard work and integrity.

A proud United States Air Force veteran, Mike was also a devoted family man. Shortly after high school, he would take the beautiful Louise Findley as his bride.  Their home was filled with love and joy as the children and grandchildren fondly remember the farm up on the hill.  Those years were rich with memories of Taffy, their beloved horse, and Brownie, the pet cow, symbolizing a simpler time when life’s troubles seemed few.

His children and grandchildren all agree that their father and grandfather bestowed a gift upon them that could not be measured by neither materialistic goods nor monetary value — the gift of his time and love. Whether he and the children were digging potatoes from the garden or gathering eggs from the hen house, the simplest of activities became treasures which are now stored in a memory vault, just because their father was right beside them. His children and grandchildren will long recall lazy afternoons spent fishing at the pond, grand adventures on 4-wheelers — some which included thrilling rides on truck bed liners through rain-swollen ditches and even building forts in the woods.

Mr. Hamil is preceded in death by his parents Leon and Lola Hamil; his son, John Michael Hamil; brother, Lewis Hamil; sister, Candy Hamil Norris; his brothers-in-law, Chalmas Stinson, Randy Findley and his mother and father-in-law, John and Lila Findley.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Louise Findley Hamil of Brookhaven; son, Larry “Tonka” Hamil (Ashly) of Brookhaven; daughters, Tisha Hamil Wallace (Kevin) of Jayess, Tina McHenry Brown (Brian) of Madison, Tammy Hamil Thurman (Brian) of Monticello and 2 sisters, Kathy Richmond (David) of Hattiesburg and Sue Stinson of Ridgeland. The legacy of their Grambo will also live on through his grandchildren Holli Riley (Corey), Regan Sanders (Taylor), Gracie Stephens (Logan), Shelby Terrell (Austin) Delaney Wallace, Dalton McHenry (Lauren), Beau Michael McHenry, Jackson McHenry, John Arthur Brown, Ashley Brown, Emmy Brown, Dillon Thurman (Kayla), Will Thurman (Maya), Austin Hamil, Ridge Michael Hamil, Cruz Stephen Hamil and his great-grandchildren, John Findley Riley, Ramsey Riley , Harrison Riley, Millie Sanders, Grayson Sanders, Lila Cole, Frannie Terrell, Kinley Jeffus, John Luke Thurman, Fisher Thurman and an expected great-granddaughter, Meredith Ann McHenry.

Online condolences and a guest registry are available at www.saultersmoorefuneralhome.com.