From my cousin Roland

19 August 2008 by Libbi.

My cousin Roland (son of my father’s sister) recently sent  Glenda, our second cousin, and me, an obituary in the family.

Glenda is our second cousin, because her maternal grandmother Ruth (Beeman) Walker was a sister of Roland’s and my grandmother, Flora (Beeman) Powell. Her mother was first cousin to my dad and Roland’s mother.

The obit is about a first cousin once removed to Roland and me. He passed away last Friday at M.D. Anderson. He and Roland used to play together as pre-schoolers in Meridian, MS many years ago! Roland had visited him at home in New Orleans just this past May, but by that time the chemo had taken away his full head of hair.   Tom’s grandmother Minnie (Hamrick) Beeman, was my great grandmother; Minnie was Flora (Beeman) Powell’s mother.

Dr. Joseph Thomas (Tom) Hamrick

October 04, 1933 - August 08, 2008

Joseph Thomas Hamrick, M.D., passed away on Friday, August 8, 2008, in Houston, Texas at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center after a courageous battle with cancer. He was 74 years old. Dr. Hamrick was born October 4, 1933, in Meridian, Mississippi to Eva Williamson Hamrick and James Lionel Hamrick.

Dr. Hamrick attended Emory University, receiving his MD from the University of Tennessee, and an MPH from Tulane University.

Dr. Hamrick was an Emeritus Professor of the Tulane University School of Medicine and the School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine. During his 40-year career at Tulane, Dr. Hamrick served in a variety of capacities, including founding Chairman of the Program in Community Medicine. He also founded and directed Tulane’s MD/MPH joint degree program, the first program of its kind in the nation, and served as the Acting Dean of the School of Public Heath & Tropical Medicine. During sabbatical from Tulane, Dr. Hamrick served as Director of the New Orleans City Health Department and as Assistant Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals. He was Director of Emergency Medicine at West Jefferson Medical Center, Medical Director for Willow Wood Nursing Home and an expert in correctional healthcare to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.

Dr. Hamrick was a member of the State Medical Societies of Louisiana and Mississippi, as well as numerous professional, governmental and community boards and organizations. He was also a member of the Pickwick Club.

Dr. Hamrick is preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Nina S. Hamrick; their daughter Janet H. Aschaffenburg (Honore); and their sons, Joseph Thomas, Jr. (Aby) and Mark Daniel. He is also survived by his grandchildren Aby Dixon Hamrick, Elizabeth Macon Hamrick and Joseph Thomas Hamrick, III; and his brother James L. Hamrick, Jr.

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