Annie Margaret Hamilton

Annie Margaret Hamilton, affectionately known as Margaret, was born in Grenville, Alabama, on August 2, 1948, to the late Bessie Davis Hamilton and the late Nelzie Hamilton. She was the middle of five children. Margaret transitioned from labor to reward on November 6, 2025, after a ten-year battle with dementia.

Margaret accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior at an early age and was baptized at the Woodland Park Church of Christ in Birmingham, Alabama. She remained an active member at University and Boulevard Churches of Christ in Cleveland, OH and raised her daughters to know and honor God. Margaret attended Washington Elementary School and graduated from Ullman High School in 1967.

At the age of 14, Margaret and her sisters, Anne Clyde and Minnie, marched alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and became foot soldiers in the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham, Alabama, organizing at churches and participating in peaceful protests. Margaret was never afraid of “good trouble,” and her activism reflected her strong sense of justice. She once took her younger sister, Virginia, to drink from a “Whites Only”-labeled drinking fountain, challenging the injustices of the time. One of her proudest moments was taking her mother, Bessie, to vote for the first time after the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

At the age of 19, Margaret moved to Cleveland, Ohio, at the urging of her mother, to build a new life. She worked in the retail and consumer goods industries before dedicating over 20 years of her life to the Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper, where she served as a distributor. Margaret won numerous awards and was beloved by her customers and known for her attention to detail and exceptional service.

Above all, Margaret had a deep affection for her family. Known as the “fun aunt,” she delighted in surprising her nieces and nephews with gifts and spontaneous trips. She loved long road trips, often driving 12 hours straight from Cleveland to Birmingham to be with her family.

Her greatest joy, however, was her role as mother to her daughters, Natasha and Rebecca. Margaret set a shining example of hard work, stewardship, and how to live life to the fullest. She was outgoing and passionate about music, gardening, dancing, reading, art, and the outdoors. Every year, passersby would stop to take photos of the vibrant flowers in her garden.

Margaret’s love for family only deepened when she became a grandmother. She cherished her grandsons, Aaron IV and Harrison, who affectionately called her "Granny M." Granny M was always ready for a sword fight, a swing ride, a dance party, or a warm cuddle on the couch. Her love for her grandsons knew no bounds.

Margaret was preceded in death by her parents, Bessie Davis Hamilton and Nelzie Hamilton; her sisters Ruby L. Reynolds and Anne C. Thompson; and her brothers-in-law, John Thompson, John F. Steele Jr., Bobby Daniels and Anthony Moore.

Those who continue to carry her memory include her loving daughters, Natasha Holiday (Aaron) of New York, NY, and Rebecca Hamilton of Bowie, MD; and her beloved grandsons, Aaron Holiday IV and Harrison Holiday, of New York, NY. She is also survived by her sisters, Sadie H. Steele of Birmingham, AL; Virginia H. Moore of Bowie, MD; and Minnie Daniels of Atlanta, GA; her aunt, Yvonne Augustus of New York, NY; four nephews, Anthony Steele, John Steele, Christopher Steele, and Corey Reynolds (DiAnna), all of Birmingham, AL; six nieces, Kathy Henderson, LeTonya Reynolds, Tracey Reynolds and Robin Reynolds, all of Birmingham, AL; Jasmine Moore Kamara (John) and Antoinette Moore of Bowie, MD; several great-nieces and great-nephews; and a host of dear cousins, friends, and extended family, including life companions Bucky Ousley, Maryland Tunson, Vivian Russell (deceased) and Larry Summers. She also shared a close bond with her son-in-law, Aaron’s family—the Holidays, Shermans, and Clinkscales.

As Margaret’s health declined over the past few years due to dementia, her daughter Rebecca dedicated herself to providing full-time care with unwavering commitment to her mother’s well-being. We extend our deepest gratitude to Rebecca, as well as to Yolanda Bruce—her in-home sitter—and to the nursing team led by Amy, Krystal and Danielle at Solon Pointe, who provided compassionate care to Margaret during the final year of her life.

Margaret’s legacy lives on through her family, her activism, and her boundless love. She is deeply missed by all who knew her.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute in honor of our mother’s legacy as a foot soldier in the 1960’s civil rights movement.

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