Nelle Slay Hamm

Nelle Slay Hamm, 97, went to be with the Lord Jesus on July 16, 2024. Nelle was born on September 21, 1926, in Hazlehurst, Mississippi, as the third of six children to George Dewey and Beulah Stevens Slay. She and her siblings shared a special bond, with the four sisters referring to one another as the "Slay Belles." Nelle's childhood was marked with loss as her mother died when she was nine and was kindly raised by the Roland Stevens, Sr. family and the Margaret Stevens Chadwick family.

Nelle graduated from Co-Lin High School and Junior College where she was a cheerleader for the Wolves and voted "Most Beautiful". Nelle began work in Jackson as a self-described "career girl" at the Mississippi Employment Security Commission until she met the love of her life, William Jefferson Hamm, Sr.

Nelle and Jeff were married on June 14, 1952, for sixty-five wonderful years. They had two children together, raising them lovingly with Nelle serving as a stay-at-home mom first in New Orleans, Louisiana, and ultimately settling in Jackson, Mississippi. She greatly enjoyed her days with summers filled as the Team Mother for the Cowboy Maloney baseball team, hosting her children's friends within the home for playdates and meals, and working on filling her beautiful yard with flowers.

Nelle served in her community through being the head of Methodist Rehabilitation Center Volunteer Services and an avid member of the One O'Clock Luncheon Club and High Noon Luncheon Club.

She loved her church family, First Presbyterian Church, and was active for many years as part of the Women in the Church. She ministered to her family, friends, and strangers through her kindness, hospitality, and counsel by modeling Christ's commands. Her warmth, capacity to listen, and elegance are a few of her notable qualities that defined her throughout all her days. Her favorite hymn was "Rock of Ages," holding fast to the refrain "nothing in my hands I bring, simply to thy cross I cling."

Nelle is survived by her sister, Rose Batte; her son, Jeff Hamm, Jr. (Elizabeth); five grandchildren, Ken Anthony (Ashley), Jill Lamar (Trey), Laura Gullett (Foster), Jeff Hamm, III., and Leslie Sivley (Brandon); and nine great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Jeff; her daughter, Suzanne Anthony; granddaughter, Jennifer Hamm; and four siblings, George, Glyn, Retha, and Carole.

Visitation will be from 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm on Friday, July 19, 2024, at the chapel of Parkway Memorial Cemetery in Ridgeland, MS with funeral services to follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to First Presbyterian Church, Jackson, MS, or Herb Kosten (Pancreatic Cancer), 6060 Poplar Ave, Suite 140, Memphis, TN 38119.