Isiah Hamilton, III

GOD’S WILL BE DONE: A JOURNEY OF FAITH, LOVE, AND LEGACY

ISIAH HAMILTON, III
“Jackie”

Isiah Hamilton, III, affectionately known as “Jackie,” was born on February 26, 1957, in Green Pond, South Carolina, the fourth of eleven children to the late Isiah Hamilton, Jr. and Viola Wright Hamilton. He peacefully answered God’s will for his life and entered eternal rest on Resurrection Sunday morning, April 5, 2026.

Jackie received his early education at Green Pond Elementary School and graduated from Walterboro High School in Walterboro, South Carolina. While in high school, he experienced a unique and memorable moment—being taught by his sister, Abbiegail—an experience that became a cherished family story. Following graduation, he continued his education at Orangeburg Technical College in Orangeburg, South Carolina, where he earned an Associate Degree in Electronics, with a focus on residential, commercial, and industrial electrical systems.

With a spirit of adventure and a strong work ethic, Jackie built a distinguished career as an electrician, working at major facilities across the United States. His assignments included the Comanche Peak Nuclear Plant in Glen Rose, Texas; the Trask/Bruner Power Plant in Bangor, Maine; an oil and chemical storage facility in Houston, Texas; and a power plant in Baltimore, Maryland. In South Carolina, he contributed his expertise to projects at V.C. Summer Nuclear Station, Fluor Daniel, TeePak Plant Devro Sausage Casing Company, and TreeHouse Foods (formerly American Italian Pasta Company) in Columbia. In 1996, recognizing the limited presence of minority-owned businesses in the state, Isiah took a bold step and founded Hamilton and Associates Electrical Contracting (H&AEC) and later Tidewater Services. Committed to excellence, he pursued advanced certifications and earned the prestigious designation of Master Electrician. He held certifications and contractor licenses in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia. Through his company, Jackie completed numerous residential, commercial, and government projects across multiple states. His work included electrical installations for Sonic restaurants along the East Coast from Virginia to Georgia, as well as projects with Starbucks Coffee. His government work included projects at Shaw Air Force Base, Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, the Beaufort Air Station Chaplain Building, Richland County School Districts One and Two, and most recently, housing renovations at Fort Jackson. While he was widely respected for his professional excellence, Isiah’s greatest legacy was his devotion to family. He served as a unifying force, intentionally fostering connections among immediate and extended family members, including the Hamilton, Boles, Wright, and Hopkins families. Alongside his late wife, Shirley, and their children, he was a consistent and a joyful presence at family gatherings.

Jackie was indeed debonair, commanding a room with his presence and dressed in a dapper style. Outside of work, he embraced life through his passions. He enjoyed hunting—especially early morning duck hunts—playing the bass guitar, gardening, deep-sea fishing, held a Black Belt in Taekwondo, and was an avid supporter of South Carolina State University athletics. He was also known for his love of cooking and fellowship, often preparing his signature smoked turkey wings—the small ones, accompanied by potato pie or peach cobbler. As a youth at his home church, Jerusalem AME, now White Hall AME, he was active in the Sunday School, sang on the youth choir and was a Junior Steward. Later in life, he served as a Deacon at New Life Church, Columbia, South Carolina and was a faithful member of Haskell Heights First Baptist Church in Columbia, South Carolina. He was also actively involved in several organizations including the NAACP, the South Carolina Minority Contractors Association, and a member of the Board of Directors of the nonprofit Camp Terrence Foundation, a youth development program established in honor of his deceased brother of which he was one of the founding members. From his early youth, he had an abiding faith in God nurtured by his Grandmother Martha Wright. This faith was clearly demonstrated through his willingness to embrace God’s will for his life even during his illness. He often remarked, “God’s will be done,” reflecting his deep faith by demonstrating trust, surrender, and alignment with God's plans over his personal desires.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his beloved wife, Shirley Brown Hamilton; an infant son, Andre; and his brothers, Theodore Hamilton and Terrence Hamilton.

He leaves to cherish his memory three beautiful children: Isiah Vincent Hamilton, IV and his wife Stephanie, Seirra Nichole Hamilton, and Marcia Simone Hamilton, for whom he fulfilled the promise of Proverbs 13:22, “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children”— ensuring through his sacrifices that each received a quality collegiate education; one granddaughter, Ariana Nevaeh Hamilton; his loving and devoted fiancée, Darnella D. Sims; one aunt, Rachel Goodwin; and his siblings: Abbiegail H. Hugine, Brenda H. Perkins, Theresa Hamilton, Deborah H. Frazier, Timothy Hamilton, Eric Hamilton, Renee N. Hamilton, and Audrey Rushin; half-sister, Vera Gerideau; Sisters-in-law Helen Hamilton, Jacqueline Hamilton, Priscilla Hamilton, Evelyn Geddis, Sharon Choice, Lydia Dubois, Theola Denise Brown, and Kemplyn Brown; Brothers-in-law Johnell Perkins, Sr., Andrew Hugine, Jr., George Frazier, Kevin Simpson, Gerald Rushin, Jerome Geddis, Elder Isiah Choice, Elder Harry Dubois, Benjamin Brown and Elder Joshua S. Brown; Along with his fiancée’s children, Erica Cunningham, Mallory Cunningham, and many other nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and friends.

Isiah’s life was a testament to faith, perseverance, excellence, and love—a legacy that will continue to inspire all who knew him.

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