Stephanie Hamilton
I first met Deondra in 1997 when I started dating her son, Kevin. From the very beginning, she welcomed me with open arms. When Kevin and I got married, she told me it was such a happy day for her because she wasn’t losing a son—she was gaining another daughter. That was who she was… loving, warm, and full of heart.
Even after Kevin and I divorced, De never let go of me, and I never let go of her. Our relationship remained strong, something I will always be grateful for. Later in life, when I remarried and went to visit her in Tallahassee, she welcomed both me and my husband with the same kindness and grace. But in true De fashion, she also made sure to tell him—with a smile—that she prayed every day I would find my way back to Kevin.
And she never stopped praying. In 2020, Kevin and I found our way back to each other, and De made sure we all knew she was taking full credit for it—because of her unwavering faith and nonstop prayers. That was her… strong in her beliefs, full of love, and never afraid to speak from the heart.
For the past 35 years, she has been so much more than a mother-in-law—she has been a second mom to me. Her love never wavered, no matter what life looked like, and that is something I will carry with me forever.
I love you, De. Thank you for loving me as your own.


