Obituary for Pauletta Rich
Pauletta Hamilton Rich was born on July 28, 1951 in Lufkin, Texas to J.B. and Pauline Hamilton. She was one of six children. Pauletta accepted Christ at an early age at Warren Chapel A.M.E. Church of the 10th Episcopal District in Dallas, Texas under the leadership of the late Rev. J. A. Haley.
As a child she was a YPDer, junior usher, and a dedicated Spruiellsette (a gospel singing group). She attended L.G. Pinkston High School where he served as a cheerleader, editor of the yearbook, a member of FBLA, National Honor Society, FTA, Choir, Vogue Vikings, and Delta Sigma. She was a member of the graduating class 1969.
She was accepted at Prairie View Agricultural & Mechanical University and she was awarded a full scholarship from United Way. She obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and Biology with a in minor English.
It was there while attending PVAMU that she meet and married Gus E. Rich. To this union four children were born, Kimberly, Valerie, Renita (Gail), and Jeremy. She relocated to Milton, Florida in 1973 where her career began as chemist at American Cyanamid. She was an exceptional educator and community activist. She taught science at Martin Luther King Middle School of Milton, Florida for twenty-five years. She was elected Teacher of the Year by her peers in 1992 and Santa Rosa County’s Distinguished Black Educator Award 1993.
Shortly after moving to Milton she began serving Greater Bethlehem A.M.E. Church in the 11th Episcopal District under the leadership of Reverend Theodore Andrews in 1976. For more than twenty years she fulfilled her calling as a servant of Christ through her participation on the Steward Board, Stewardess Board, Class Leader, Chairwoman of the Commission on Stewardship and Finance, Advisor to the Young People's Department, Member of the Holland Henderson Women's Missionary Society, Chairwoman of the Board of Christian Education, and Superintendent of Sunday School. She was also a member of the Prayer and Bible Band, a group of anointed and powerful prayer warriors with the Milton community.
She was also involved in the Area, District, Conference, and Connectional levels of the church. She was the Celia F. Wood YPD Director in 1976 until 1984. She attended the Quadrennium in Detroit, Michigan as an alternate in 1993 and was a delegate to the Quadrennium 1997 convening in Miami, Florida. She attended the General Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in 2000 as an Alternate. Mrs. Rich was the Celia F. Wood Area Chairwoman of the Women's Missionary Society from 1994 – 2002.
In the early 1990’s a partnership between East Milton churches created the Magnolia Educational and Recreational Center a non-profit after-school tutorial, that served the needs of disadvantaged students. She served as the Educational Coordinator/Executive Director of the Magnolia Center from 1992 – 1995. During her tenure, the Magnolia Center served more than a hundred students on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in their academic courses, summer enrichment programs and provided a number of trips ranging from HBCU College Tours to cultural experiences like the Ebony Fashion Fair Show. In 1993 she traveled with students to visit Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church for the Resurrection Sunday Morning Service with Reverend Richard Norris.
In 1998, she journeyed to Nairobi, Kenya on a Mission Trip as an Educator, Missionary and Servant!
Furthering her call into the Ministry she joined Hurst Chapel A.M.E. Church under the leadership of Reverend Philip Russ, IV and continued serving the Lord with her participation as a Class Leader, Stewardess, Sunday School Teacher, Inspirational Choir Member, Steward, Member of the Christian Education Committee, and the Luthenia White Women's Missionary Society.
She was a member of the Okaloosa County Alumnae Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated, the Jerusalem Grand Chapter Order of the Eastern Star C.B. Nelson Daniels Chapter and the Santa Rosa County Retired Educators Association.
She leaves a Legacy of Hope and Inspiration to her loving spouse Gus E. Rich; mother Mrs. Pauline Hamilton of Dallas, Texas; children: Kimberly Rich-Williams (Craig) of Houston, Texas, Renita Gail Rich-Bren (Astro) of Newport News, Virginia, and Reverend Jeremy G. Rich of Thomasville, GA; 7 grandchildren: Zora, Rachel, Anniyha, Jonathan, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Savannah; siblings: Elridge Harold Hamilton, Rev. Gloria H. Johnson, Jerry Russell Hamilton, and James Bernard Hamilton; uncle Mr. George A. Ervin of San Antonio, Texas; and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends.
Those who are preceding her in death her father J.B. Hamilton, her daughter, Valerie Janell, brother Donald Ray Hamilton, nephew British Don Hamilton.
Trahan Family Funeral Home of Milton is in charge of arrangements.
Visitation is Friday, March 1, 2019, 7-8:30 p.m., at Trahan Family Funeral Home of Milton. Funeral Service, Saturday, March 2, 2019, public viewing 11:00 a.m., with service at 1:00 p.m., at Milton First Assembly of God; burial to follow to Milton Keyser Cemetery.
As a child she was a YPDer, junior usher, and a dedicated Spruiellsette (a gospel singing group). She attended L.G. Pinkston High School where he served as a cheerleader, editor of the yearbook, a member of FBLA, National Honor Society, FTA, Choir, Vogue Vikings, and Delta Sigma. She was a member of the graduating class 1969.
She was accepted at Prairie View Agricultural & Mechanical University and she was awarded a full scholarship from United Way. She obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and Biology with a in minor English.
It was there while attending PVAMU that she meet and married Gus E. Rich. To this union four children were born, Kimberly, Valerie, Renita (Gail), and Jeremy. She relocated to Milton, Florida in 1973 where her career began as chemist at American Cyanamid. She was an exceptional educator and community activist. She taught science at Martin Luther King Middle School of Milton, Florida for twenty-five years. She was elected Teacher of the Year by her peers in 1992 and Santa Rosa County’s Distinguished Black Educator Award 1993.
Shortly after moving to Milton she began serving Greater Bethlehem A.M.E. Church in the 11th Episcopal District under the leadership of Reverend Theodore Andrews in 1976. For more than twenty years she fulfilled her calling as a servant of Christ through her participation on the Steward Board, Stewardess Board, Class Leader, Chairwoman of the Commission on Stewardship and Finance, Advisor to the Young People's Department, Member of the Holland Henderson Women's Missionary Society, Chairwoman of the Board of Christian Education, and Superintendent of Sunday School. She was also a member of the Prayer and Bible Band, a group of anointed and powerful prayer warriors with the Milton community.
She was also involved in the Area, District, Conference, and Connectional levels of the church. She was the Celia F. Wood YPD Director in 1976 until 1984. She attended the Quadrennium in Detroit, Michigan as an alternate in 1993 and was a delegate to the Quadrennium 1997 convening in Miami, Florida. She attended the General Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in 2000 as an Alternate. Mrs. Rich was the Celia F. Wood Area Chairwoman of the Women's Missionary Society from 1994 – 2002.
In the early 1990’s a partnership between East Milton churches created the Magnolia Educational and Recreational Center a non-profit after-school tutorial, that served the needs of disadvantaged students. She served as the Educational Coordinator/Executive Director of the Magnolia Center from 1992 – 1995. During her tenure, the Magnolia Center served more than a hundred students on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in their academic courses, summer enrichment programs and provided a number of trips ranging from HBCU College Tours to cultural experiences like the Ebony Fashion Fair Show. In 1993 she traveled with students to visit Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church for the Resurrection Sunday Morning Service with Reverend Richard Norris.
In 1998, she journeyed to Nairobi, Kenya on a Mission Trip as an Educator, Missionary and Servant!
Furthering her call into the Ministry she joined Hurst Chapel A.M.E. Church under the leadership of Reverend Philip Russ, IV and continued serving the Lord with her participation as a Class Leader, Stewardess, Sunday School Teacher, Inspirational Choir Member, Steward, Member of the Christian Education Committee, and the Luthenia White Women's Missionary Society.
She was a member of the Okaloosa County Alumnae Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated, the Jerusalem Grand Chapter Order of the Eastern Star C.B. Nelson Daniels Chapter and the Santa Rosa County Retired Educators Association.
She leaves a Legacy of Hope and Inspiration to her loving spouse Gus E. Rich; mother Mrs. Pauline Hamilton of Dallas, Texas; children: Kimberly Rich-Williams (Craig) of Houston, Texas, Renita Gail Rich-Bren (Astro) of Newport News, Virginia, and Reverend Jeremy G. Rich of Thomasville, GA; 7 grandchildren: Zora, Rachel, Anniyha, Jonathan, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Savannah; siblings: Elridge Harold Hamilton, Rev. Gloria H. Johnson, Jerry Russell Hamilton, and James Bernard Hamilton; uncle Mr. George A. Ervin of San Antonio, Texas; and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends.
Those who are preceding her in death her father J.B. Hamilton, her daughter, Valerie Janell, brother Donald Ray Hamilton, nephew British Don Hamilton.
Trahan Family Funeral Home of Milton is in charge of arrangements.
Visitation is Friday, March 1, 2019, 7-8:30 p.m., at Trahan Family Funeral Home of Milton. Funeral Service, Saturday, March 2, 2019, public viewing 11:00 a.m., with service at 1:00 p.m., at Milton First Assembly of God; burial to follow to Milton Keyser Cemetery.