Ruth Mirtie "Floy" Hamilton Graves

Mirtie Ruth “Floy” Hamilton Graves

(January 29, 1957 – August 19, 2026)

A Celebration of Life Funeral Service will be held at 12:00 noon on Saturday, August 22, 2026, at Revive Church in Moselle, Mississippi, for Mirtie Ruth “Floy” Hamilton Graves, 69 of Brandon, who passed away on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, at St. Dominic Hospital in Jackson following what was expected to be a routine procedure.

Brother Jeremy Sherrill and Brother Brad Forsythe will officiate at the services with interment to follow in the Chaztin J. Ellzey Memorial Cemetery, on Toxie Crosby Road in Seminary. Special music will be provided by Mrs. Amanda Graves Sherrill, Hayden Graves, Ainsly Graves, Bryce Graves, and Savannah Graves. Billy M. King-Colonial Chapel Funeral Home in Collins will be in charge of the arrangements.

The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon on Saturday, August 22, 2026, at Revive Church, 7 Tom Rainey Road in Moselle.

Her pallbearers will be Wyatt Aultman, Austin Ellzey, Drew Ellzey, Drey Ellzey, Bryce Graves, and Hayden Graves. Honorary pallbearers will be Forres Ellzey, James Hedgepeth, and Caleb Trammell.

Floy was born on January 29, 1957, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, to Royce Cletus Hamilton and Mary Ellen Dunn Hamilton. She earned an associate of arts degree from Pearl River Community College. Floy owned and operated the Hamilton Truck Stop in Hattiesburg, she endured a traumatic life-changing event when her sister, Betty Ellen, was murdered. But in true Floy fashion, she turned tragedy into triumph. She dedicated herself to fighting domestic violence and working to prevent child abuse.

Floy embraced her sister’s daughter, Stephanie, as her own and made it her mission to make a difference in the lives of women and children facing violence and abuse. As Director of the Mississippi Committee of Prevention of Child Abuse and an advocate for domestic violence prevention, Floy could be found organizing countless charity events, sitting on Senate committees, and assisting—no, saving—anyone and everyone she could. Whether helping someone find shelter or working with law enforcement, Floy never hesitated to step in when someone needed help.

On June 15, 1991, Floy married her “Beau Baby,” Jimmie Graves. Together, they built a life filled with love, hard work, bridge building, adventures, bucket-list memories, and genuine service to others. Their home and their hearts were always open. Their family could never put a number on the countless people Beau and Floy welcomed with open arms and treated as family.

Floy loved her family, sleep time, and any adventure—whether spontaneous or carefully planned. She lived life fully and never seemed to meet a stranger. No matter the time or place, Floy shared her faith in Jesus and served as His hands and feet to everyone she encountered.

The phrase “one of a kind” certainly describes Floy. She loved deeply, cared genuinely, and fought tenaciously whenever the occasion called for it.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Royce Cletus Hamilton and Mary Ellen Dunn Hamilton; her grandparents, Grover and Mirtie Dunn and Eugene and Ellen Hamilton; and her sister, Betty Ellen Hamilton.

Survivors include her husband of thirty-five years, Jimmie “Beau” Graves of Brandon; three daughters, Tera Holly East and Stephanie Lite Aultman (Stevie), all of Sumrall, and Victoria Rose Jarrell (Kevin) of Brandon; two sons, Coby Graves (Heather) of Pearl and Dalten Mellington of Brandon; twelve grandchildren, Beau Garrett, Zoie, Isabella, Wyatt, Gracie, Bryce, Hayden, Ainsly, Everly, Carrie, Cailea, and Adaline; six great-grandchildren, Adilynn, Elijah, Ricky, Addison, Hazley, and Waylon; and a host of other family members and friends.

Family members and friends may sign an online guestbook at www.billymkingcolonialchapel.com