To know him was to love him. He had a smile that could light up a room. He was a well-dressed, soft-spoken gentleman, who won hearts and souls for the Lord with his warm personality and his dedicated way of teaching God's Word. He was not a very tall man, yet he stood out in a crowd like the gentle giant that he was.

Elder Julius Harrison Hamilton, Sr., made his entry into the world on January 2, 1951, in Belle Glade, Florida. He was the sixth of 11 children born to the union of the late Lula Mae and James Hamilton, Sr. When he was still a toddler, his parents and siblings gave him the nickname of "Chubby". It was a name that his family and friends affectionately called throughout his life.

He was only seven when his father died. However, the Lord blessed him with a "bonus" father, Uriah Gordon, who was very instrumental in the young Julius' development and an advisor during his adulthood, until his death in 2010.

The young Julius attended Lake Shore Elementary School, and later graduated from Lake Shore Junior/Senior High School in 1969. After graduating from high school, Julius was employed as a truck driver in the agricultural industry, where he worked for over 12 years.  He later went to work for Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) for several years before joining Southeastern Freightway where he worked for over 20 years until his retirement in 2015.

It was while attending Lake Shore Junior Senior High School, that he met the love of his life, Nora Ann Corley. They were both only 16, lived on the same street, and both graduated the same year.

After a dedicated and loving 10-year courtship, Julius and Nora Ann were joined in holy matrimony on January 11, 1978. To their union, three children were born. At the time of his death, Julius and Nora Ann had just celebrated their wedding anniversary. They had remained devoted "as one" for 46 years.

It was in 1982, after a co-worker spoke to him about having a relationship with God, that Julius decided he wanted a change in his life, and at that very moment, on his job, he accepted the Lord as his personal Savior. His wife, seeing the change in her husband, also accepted the Lord, and the two became "soldiers" in the army of the Lord.

In 1985, after a meeting with Evangelist Wille Redmond, Jr., who was leading a church revival in Belle Glade under the auspices of The Church of God Tabernacle (True Holiness) in Miami, the newly saved Julius decided to become a member and The Church of God Tabernacle (True Holiness) and it became his forever sanctuary. Along with Evangelist Redmond, the now Evangelist Hamilton secured the property at 1648 Avenue G, as a permanent site for a Belle Glade-based Church of God Tabernacle (True Holiness). Later, his wife Nora was called to the ministry and together, they worked hand-in-hand in the Lord's vineyard.

After the untimely passing of Evangelist Redmond, who had been appointed the pastor of the Belle Glade Church by the late Overseer Bishop Walter H. Richardson, the newly appointed Elder Hamilton was named Assistant Pastor of the Belle Glade church by the bishop.

Becoming the leader of the Belle Glade church was a position that Elder Hamilton was well-suited for. He was a faithful minister of the Lord and was dedicated to the mission for which he was called. He had a quiet and effective way of imparting wisdom and guidance on both spiritual and life matters. But make no mistake, the anointing of God was truly manifested through his sermons. He was known as a preacher/teacher whose role was to encourage and admonish, thereby winning souls for God's Kingdom.

Elder Hamilton, as the congregation and community called him, was well respected by everyone he knew, and had an especially unique bond and relationship with his church family.

In his retirement, Elder Hamilton continued the work of the Lord and served as a community advocate alongside the Grassroots Organizations of Belle Glade and Guardians of the Glades. He was a member of the Gulf Stream Boy Scouts of America where he served as the assistant den leader of the Weblos pack. He also enjoyed  spending time with the senior citizens of Tanner Park.

On January 20, 2024, shortly after blowing his beloved Nora a kiss, the Lord saw fit to call Elder Hamilton home to be with Him.

He is preceded in death by his brother James Hamilton, Jr.

In addition to his devoted wife, he leaves to cherish his memory, daughters Delia Hamilton of West Palm Beach, and Carla Hamilton of Charlotte, North Carolina; son Julius Hamilton, Jr. (Nicole) of Wake Forest, North Carolina; grandchildren Davonte Allen (Anisa) of San Antonio, Texas, Darrion Hamilton of San Diego, California, Jori Davis of West Palm Beach, and Zara Hamilton of Charlotte, North Carolina; great-grandchildren Adrian Allen, Karter Allen, and Kalia Allen.

Sisters Kathleen Williams of Port Charlotte, Florida, Mable Cunningham, Luwarner Cross, Jacqueline Hamilton, Gail Balfour of Boynton Beach, Florida (Wilmont Sr.), Terry Williams, Leatrice Lawrence of West Palm Beach, Cathy Seider (Jay); brothers Scottie Hamilton, and Leon Hamilton of Atlanta, Georgia; loving in-laws, Glinda Jasper of Valdosta, Georgia, Anthony Corley (Corine), Joyce Hamilton (Dr. Willie) of Vero Beach, Dorothy Corley of West Palm Beach, Sheila Ray (Danny), Terry Corley, and Youla Battle; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, god-children, friends and his church family.