Celebrating the Life of Our Beloved Mrs. Katie Lois Hamm, October 9, 1933 - November 6, 2006, A Life Well Lived, When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burned: neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. (Isaiah 43:2), Even in the darkest moments you still found peace and joy. You were a wonderful example of a life well lived., Saturday, November 11, 11:00 am, Rock Temple A.M.E. Church, 1021 Bryant Street, Conyers, GA, Reverend Dr. Henry Andrews, Pastor, Reverend Christopher Shipp, Presiding, Reverend Dr. John Foster, Eulogist

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B R A T 1 N
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BELOVED
Saturday, November 11 11:00 am
Rock Temple A.M.E. Church 1021 Bryant Street Conyers, GA
Reverend Dr. Henry Andrews
Pastor
Reverend Christopher Shipp
Presiding
Reverend Dr. John Foster
Eulogist

Mrs. Katie Lois Hamm
October 9, 1933 - November 6, 2006
A Life Well Lived
When thou passest through the waters I will be with thee;
and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee : when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burned : neither shall the Aame kindle upon thee.
(Isaiah 43 :2)
Even in the darkest moments you still found peace and joy. You were a wonder~ul example of a life well lived .

life 111 Rctlcctio11
The Beginnings of an Influential Woman:
Katie Lois Hamm was born October 9, 1933 , the youngest daughter of Clarence Shipp and Celia Holden Shipp. She hailed from a long
line of hardworking, God-fearing and humble Shipps and Gileses and all their progeny in Rockdale, Newton and Walton counties . Clarence and Celia, farmers mainly, lived in Conyers along what is now Iris Drive. Her siblings included : Magdalene, Johnnie Will, Clancy
Mae, Robert, C. L., Harry and James. Who could have know that this Katie Lois Shipp Hamm would make such a difference in so many
lives?
An Educated Woman : Katie Lois received her early education at the Bryant Street School, up the hill from Rock Temple. She played on the basketball team and was very good at the sport . Upon graduation she sought a higher education at Fort Valley State College and graduated with a degree in elementary education. She was one of two siblings who graduated from college. Mrs. Ruth Johnson, one of her Fort Valley State
graduating class members of 19 54 said Katie Lois had written in the Fort Valley yearbook that her motto was, "Always strive for the better
things in life.11 It is evident that she lived this motto throughout her life.
Her Family Life: Katie Lois married Willie Robert Hamm, now deceased . To this union was born two sons, Hugh and Willie, Jr. Later after the death of her
sister Clancy Mae, Lois and Willie Robert adopted Clancy Mae1s 4-year-old daughter Sherrilynn Thornton, and raised her just as if she
were their very own . Although the marriage ended, Katie Lois continued nurturing the family. She registered them for sports, and she signed them up for music lessons. She wanted her ch ildren to be well-rounded and she wanted them to be great people. She wanted them to love the Lord and work in the church . She lived to see her children reach adulthood and start families of their own . She greatly enjoyed spoiling the grandkids with items she would pick up during shopping. She carried on many traditions, one of which was the grand Christmas Eve dinner each year. She leaves a wealth of love, wisdom, knowledge and traditions for the family to continue and strive to bequeath to through the next generations.
The Career Woman: Katie Lois was a career woman . She began her teaching career in Griffin and remained there until an opening occurred in Rockdale County . She started out at J. P. Carr School, teaching third grade until desegregation. She was then transferred to J. H . House, where she still
taught the third grade. She retired in 1992 after 3 6 years as an educator. She touched thousands of children who gained a solid
foundation from her instruction. Many times Katie Lois would recall when she was in a store somewhere and a child would come up and
1
say, 'Hi Mrs. Hamm. I was in your class ." Though she may not have remembered that specific child, the children always remembered her . She made a long lasting impression even on the children.
Her Love Affair with Rock Temple and the A.M. E. Church:
Katie Lois was raised to be a godly person . Her membershi p at Rock Temple A. M . E. Church spanned 60+ years . She was not a pew
member. She believed in working for the Lord . As she grew in God's grace she shared her love for Christ through service to the church. She was superindent of Sunday School. She was director of the Young People's Department (YPD) . She was a church Trustee. She was a member of both the Senior Choir and Gospel Choir. She organized the sumbeam choir. She was president of the Local Lay Organization. More reently, Katie Lois served as Children's Church teacher, president of the 1\Aissionary Society, member of the Stewardess Board. She was a dedicated missionary responsible for the communion service preparation as well as the community outreach to the sick and shut-in. Katie Lois was very active in the A.M .E. Church Conference. She worked tirelessly in the A tlan a East District Lay Organization and the Atlanta East Area Women's Missionary Society. At the time of her death, she was parlimentarian of the Atlanta East Area Women's Missionary Society, and chaplain of the Atlanta East District Lay Organization .

life lt1 Rcflcctiol1
Community Service:
Katie Lois believed in community service. She worked a number d years in the Rockdale branch of the NAACP, as treasurer and leader of the scholarship committee . She was recently nominated to serve as Third Vice-President for 2007 .The elections were to be held in
December. Katie Lois was also most recently appointed to serve on the Rockdale County Board of Education Community Council. She also made time to volunteer for Partnership for Community Service, reading to the children at Headstart.
A Care-giver: Katie Lois showed much care to her brothers during their illnesses. Each of them was ill quite closely together, but Katie Lois never waivered in her support to C .L., Harry, and Robert . Many times she was not physically able, but she got her strength from God and saw to it that
each of them was taken care oF. She was admired for the love, courage and strength she showed .
A P- Elite Girl
Katie Lois was a member of a very elite group of retired ladies who called themselves the P-Eiite Girls meeting once a month for lunch. The group consisted of Katie Lois, Gerri Simmons, Joyce Ferguson, Nancy Flanagan, and Frances Bates . The name came to be one day when they were on an outing For lunch at the Emory Inn Conference Center hosted by Gerri Simmons . They just happened to get off on the
wrong floor (the P floor) and, from that day on, Katie Lois referred to them as the P-Eiite Girls. She had a delightful sense d humor. The
P-Eiite Girls just recently celebrated Katie Lois's birthday at the Golden Coral .
Her Final Walk with the Lord: Many think that Katie Lois was a very religious person just because she followed the A.M.E. traditions and protocol. She always referred to the A .M .E. church books For guidance. Katie Lois was religious that way, but more importantly, she had a mature and strong relationship with the Lord .This allowed her to have a very outgoing and beautiful attitude about life and her faith in God . You could see her faith as she endured the loss of her parents and siblings . You could see her faith as she endured her fight with breast cancer. A nd , even at the close of her life, you could see her faith . She was still trusting in God. She never once complained about being in the hospital. She was busy giving out instructions about getting the communion cloths ready for the communion on the coming Sunday .
While many of us will go on for days questioning God on why he decided to pluck this beautiful flower - "Why Katie Lois? "- she would
say, "Why Not?" Katie Lois would say, "Children I'm going to a better place." So, on Monday November 6, she looked and saw the
angels coming to escort her home. And then she heard the Master's call : "Come on home my child . You have fought a good fight. Come on home, and take your rest! Enter into the joy of the Lord."
Her Lasting Legacy: Katie Lois has made a lasting impression on many lives, including her family, church and community . She will be greatly missed, but her legacy will live on through her children and thei r children : Hugh, Monica, and Kendrick; Willie, Jr., Bonita, Kirsten, and Kayla; Mrs. Sherrilynn Thornton and Trey; through her brother and his family: James Shipp, Donna, LeCelia, LeDonna, and Jamie; through her sisters-in- law and their families : Minnie Ola Shipp, Catherine Hamm, and Hattie Shipp. Among these are her nieces and their spouses and offspring : Vivian, Harvey, Michelle, and Kenyatta Powers; E. R. Shipp; V irginia, Arthur, Arthur, Jr, and Jonathan Caldwell; Norma Shipp; Sherri Brown; Suzette Shipp; Charlene and Dexter Hall; and Lisa Hardeman . Her legacy will also live on through her nephews and their spouses and offspring: Clarence Shipp; Christopher, Valerie, and Christi an Shipp; Ronnie Brown, and a host of cousins .

1l1 Cclcbratiol1
Rev. Christopher M. Shipp - Nephew, Presiding

Prelude

How Great Thou Art

Church Organist

Processiona I

Musical Medley

Fountain of Life Church Band

Selection

Rock Temple Choir

Prayer

Rev. Fredrick Caldwell

Scripture

Old Testament - Psalm 121 :1-8 New Testament- Romans 8 :35-39

Rev . Dr. Henry Andrews Rev . Dr. Henry Andrews

Song of Praise
(2 Minutes each please) Reflections from Rock Temple Reflections from the Rockdale County School System Reflections from the Rockdale Branch of the NAACP Resolution from the City of Conyers Resolution from the Atlanta East Area Women's Missionary Society

Rev . Hosea Clay & Fountain of Life, Ellenwood
Sis . Nancy Flanagan Sis. Jan Smith Dea. Willie Gibson, President Councilman Clevela nd Stroud President Adrian Ford

Solo
Pc:

!ad tl"~

(2 Minutes each please)

Reflections From a Friend k -

Rdlections from the Family ~
~~~~~his

Musical Tribute to Our Mother L--

V Bro. Fred Flanagan
Sis . Frances Bates Sis. Annie Catherine Hamm, Sister-In-Law Bro. Hugh Hamm/Bro. Willie Hamm, Jr .

Eulogy v--

vi~ */ Final Tribute

(J7Le_

t; u) - I~ t.. J/) f:

t/fJ tj ~{ ~ ~ Acknowledgements

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Rev. Dr. John Foster St. Phillip A.M.E . Church, Savannah
Dr. Norma Shipp, Niece
Sis. Monica Hamm, Daughter-In-Law

Recessional

(}1L ~ I'll Fly Away

Rock Temple Choir

~eek's Internment-

Chapel Cemetery/Repast - Rock Temple A.M. E.

Re1cmbrattccs of Katie
Fort Valley Class of 1954 Class Mate- Mrs. Ruth Jackson Green: To my friend, my room mate at Fort Valley State, at the Duncan House and to the sister 1ve adopted for the past half century. I am so
happy to have touched shoulders with you. I count it an honor and privilege to have known you and met your wonderful family . 1954
seems like yesterday when we were at the Duncan House . We could hear you singing while you were doing cleaning chores, or w.e knew ~hen you were getting back from choir rehearsal, because we could hear you singing a~ong the sidewalk as you were nearing the house. The girls would teasingly say, 11Katie must think she is a nightingale" . You always seemed so happy or calm. Perhaps it was that spirit in you that held the clan together. I have wondered how the five of us stayed in that one room for four years without coming out the roof.
While one writer has said, 11Death is only a dream", another writer reminds us to look at life in the following words, 11Life is a journey, not a home; a road, not a city of habitation; and the enjoyments and blessings we have are but little inns on the roadside of life, where we may be refreshed for a moment, that we may with new strength press on to the end - to the rest that remaineth for the people of God11
My friend, my sister, I will miss you dearly. We all will miss you ... Our Journey Continues.
J.H. House Retiree - Mrs. Alberta Barnes: We First met as young teachers at J . P. Carr School. We worked there until desegregation, and we were transferred to J . H . House. Lois
taught the third grade and I taught the fourth grade. We both retired in 1992 together . She was my best friend for 35 years . I know she loved her family, church, Weight-Watchers class, walking, and working out at Johnson Park gym. She was always encouraging me to get up
and move around more. Lois was always thinking about others . She never forgot birthdays or special occasions . I introduced her to a group
of ladies in Atlanta, and we did outings and socialized together. Lois would invite us to her home as well. You know she never
complained . She loved to read . We shared many books. I gave her many books that were reflective in theme. She loved to think and learn new things.
Her Neighbor and Sister-In-Law- Mrs. Catherine Hamm :
Katie Lois and I met about 40 years ago . We hit it off real well. Soon after we became neighbors. We had a lot of fun times . We would
go and exercise or walk together. We enjoyed going to dinner together and just sit and talk about family . We were running partners and shopping buddies. I will miss her. We were really more like sisters.
Church Member and Friend- Mrs. Nancy Flanagan: She was my best friend . We talked mostly twice a day. We went to most church meetings together up and down the road . We were mostly on the same boards because we traveled together. We liked to eat out together. We were real close friends . I met Lois when I moved here from Covington . We worked well together at Rock Temple .
A Missionary Worker- Sis. Effie Long (Former President Atlanta East Area Women's Missionay Society):
Katie Lois was a strong missionary at her local church and district level. She had great pride and she wanted things done right . She was always willing to help on the different mission projects . She participated in our campaign to help the Lost Boys of Sudan by gathering food, clothes and obtaining housing . She assisted the burn victims of Somalia . She helped feed the hungry. She helped with the Katrina project. She was active in the Church Conference and the area level. She attended all the state meetings and always was open to volunteer. She enjoyed hosting us when we came to Rock Temple. She spoke what she thought was right . She was a great person . She was a good
friend . We are all real proud of the missionary work she accomplished . We are real proud of her. We will be there for the family.

Rcmcmbrat1ccs of Katie

Eternal Life In times of sorrow, it1s comforting to know
That God is still on the throne.
He has everything under control And He1d never leave us alone.

Y'ou always borrowed my book' llj ust !-or y ouII w.hen you wantedto se~Ieclj. a reading for a special occassion. This book is a collection d inspirational verses by Helen Steiner Rice. I honor you today through this poem:
I Meet God in the Morning

He breathed on us and gave us life, A gift of the greatest kind. And when He created each of us, He had a purpose in mind .
A purpose that goes beyond temporal things, Much farther than what we can see, For His view is not from the perspective of time, But, from eternity.
His plan for our lives here on earth Are nothing less than good . Though trials come, He loves us still, This must be understood .
And even after we leave this place, We1lllive forever more With Jesus, our lord and Savior, Worshipping Him like never before .
So there1s one thing we must remember,
Though, at times, ies hard to do, That we're but pilgrims here on earth Who are merely passing through .
Because life on earth is for a season, And things as we know them wi ll change, But we know that for us to live is Christ, And for us to die is gain .
Bonita Hamm Spoken Word in Honor of my Mother-In-Law

"The earth is the Lord1s
and the fullness thereoP1 --
It speaks of His greatness{ it sings of Hts love,
And each day at dawning
I lift my neart high
And raise up my eyes to the infinite sky .. .
I watch the night vanish as a new day is born,
And I hear the birds sing
on the wm. gs or_r t'ne mom, ! see the devv glisten
~n crystal-like splendor While Gcd, with a touch
that is gentle and tender, Wt'aps U;:J the night
and softly tucks it away
.And hangs out the sun to herald a new day ..
And so I give t! ani<s
and my heai l<neels to pray --
11God, keep me and guide me
and go with me today. d
't has been a joy being your sister for 56 vears on December ::.. 3 . 2no6 .
Good night my sister and may God nchly bless your soul .
With all my Love,
Minnie Ola

A Tribute To Our Mother

Remcmbra11ccs of Katie
Preceding Katie in Death

Pare ts
Dea. C!arerce Shipp September 20, 1982 Sis. Celia Holden Shipp November '12, 1980

May the Works I've Done Speak For Me Although the angels have carried you home to be with the Lord, we will always carry you in our hearts. We have cried for you and more tears are too come. Yet, your quiet strength will comfort us . We will strive to remember the teachings that you instilled in us; we must love one another and get along . And above all we must love God and live right.

Siblings

Baby MaNin Joe Shipp

January 141 1942

Ms Clancy 1\1\ae Shipp Thornton August 3, 1969

Dea. Johnnie Wil! Shipp, Sr. June 13, 1993

Mrs. /Viagdalene Brown Myers

December 7, 1997

Mr Harry Lee Shipp

April 1r 2000

Mr. Clarence Lewis Shipp
1'1\r. Lucious Robert Shipp

December 7 1 2003 February 21 , 2004

Today we add:

Katie Lois Shipp Hamm

November 6, 2006

As adults with families of our own we will nurture
our families as you did ours. We will teach our
children as you taught us. We will continue to live your motto, 11 Always strive for the better things in life11 We will aspire to be brothers and sister that represent your legacy well .

The works that you have begun in us will help us endure the grief and then lead us to continue on our journey as brothers and sister.
We love you. We miss you . But we know that one day we will meet you in glory!
In lieu of flowers the family asks that you make a donation to: The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
5005 LBJ Fwy., Ste 250 Dallas, TX 75244
or the American Cancer Society.
P 0 Box 22718 Oklahoma City, OK 73123

Go on and take your rest!
Remembr nee$ or Katie
Daphne Bailey
fv\rs. i-famm still had the same spirit as nothing was going on . ,-\11 that she was going d rough she said, i'm doing fine. Indeed, she was longsu~Fering. H.,.:::r attitude was beautiful.
tr In the ';'ears at I have knowr~ her I vVd$ always rond of her. She alvvays vvas
volunteering me to do something. It was like you just could not say no to i/\rs
Harnm. Vle all will miss her.

ACKNO\VlDGMNTS
The family of the late Mrs. Katie Lois Shipp Hamm expresses our thanks to the many people that have been a part
of her life's journey. We bless everyone for their love, prayers, and support during her illness and transition home to be
with the Lord. We especially thank her pastor, Rev. Dr. Henry Andrews and Rock Temple A.M .E. Church Family that have been a very integral part of her life. We thank Dr. John Foster for coming from Savannah to deliver the eulogy. We wish to thank all the program participants. We wish that everyone that wanted to speak today could but time would not allow this . Thank you for your understanding.
We thank all the family that have supported Katie Lois throughout her life, in particular Mr. James Shipp, Mrs. Minnie Ola Shipp, Mrs. Annie Catherine Hamm, Mrs. Vivian Powers, and Dr. Norma Shipp . We want to thank all the friends for their love and support to our Katie Lois, in particular Mrs . Nancy Flanagan, Mrs. Roberta Barnes, Mrs. Frances Bates, Mrs . Gerrri Simmons, and Mrs. Joyce Ferguson, Mrs. Laura Aikens, and tv\rs . Ruth Jackson Green.
We thank the various organizations that she worked with throughout the years : Rockdale County Public School System, NAACP Rockdale Branch, Atlanta East Area Women 's Missionary Society, and Atlanta East District Lay Organization . This gave her great joy. She truly wanted to make a difference.
Katie Lois has touched so many lives and it is simply marvelous to see that her life was an example and affected so
many lives in such a positive way . We want to thank each of you for taking time out of your schedule to support us in
this our time of bereavement. If it were somone else being funeralized at Rock Temple on today, Katie Lois would be ordering the chicken and cooking the ham. It is such a joy to have this outpouring of love shown to us. Katie Lois would be proud that her work did not go unrewarded but we know that her greater reward is in heaven.
W e thank Dr. Okafar, Dr. Carter and all the doctors and nursing staff that were involved in her care, especially ICU 2nd Floor Rockdale Medical Center.
May God richly bless each of you for your expressions of love and support.

Pallbearers Tru stees/Stewa rds
Honorary Pallbearers Cousins
Flower Ladies Rock Temple Missionary Society Atlanta East Area Women's Missionary Society Atlanta East District Lay Organization
Honorary Flower Ladies Stewardesses
Final Arrangements Entrusted To: Levett Funeral Home, Inc 1041 Bryant Street Conyers, Ga 30012
(770) 483-9885

A Special Thank You to
Daphne Flanagan
W ords cannot express our thanks enough to you for finding our mother and getting her immediate
medical attention .
Your rescue allowed us to have a few more days with her and we were able to be with her as she
made her transition home to the Lord.
Thank you for your courage and your love shown in this most difficult time.
May God Bless You in Your Journey! We love you,
Hugh, Willie, and Lynn