Overview

• Hamilton died of natural causes at her Chicago home on June 19, surrounded by her grandchildren, loved ones and caregivers.
• The Mississippi-born actress rose to fame as Donna Harris on NBC’s Sanford and Son and as Verdie Foster on CBS’s The Waltons.
• She began her journey in Chicago community theater, made her Broadway debut in 1959 and toured globally with Shakespeare and other stage productions.
• Hamilton made her screen debut in John Cassavetes’ Shadows (1959) and later guest-starred on series ranging from Roots: The Next Generations and 227 to The Practice and Cold Case.
• Married to poet-playwright Frank Jenkins from 1964 until his death in 2014, she collaborated on multiple stage works and was honored with an NAACP Award for her contributions.