Evelyn Louise Hamilton was born at home in Savannah, Chatham, Georgia on 5 March 1920, the first child of Charles Henry Hamilton and Ella Hodges Hamilton. Evelyn has two brothers, Earl Hodges who is 4 years younger and Myron Leon who is 7 years her junior.
Savannah, Chatham, Georgia
Savannah, Georgia is located inland from the Atlantic ocean about 15 miles and is bordered on the north by the Savannah River and is considered an important Atlantic seaport. The Savannah River divides Georgia from South Carolina.
Savannah was founded by the arrival of 114 colonists, including James Oglethorpe on February 12, 1733, just one year after the Crown founded the colony of Georgia. Before Oglethorpe’s arrival, features of the towns framework was developed.
It is known as America’s first planned city. Savannah was laid out in series of grids that allowed for wide open streets intertwined with shady public squares that served as meeting places and centers of business. 22 of the original 24 squares are still in existence today.
Pre-Civil War Savannah was praised as the most picturesque and serene city in America. It was known for its grand oaks covered with Spanish moss and its genteel citizenry.
Even though Sherman’s “March To The Sea” was his last stand of the war, he could not destroy the city because of its beauty. Instead, he offered the city as a Christmas present to President Abraham Lincoln.
Birth
Evelyn was born at home on 5 March 1920. Her mother and father were renting a downtown apartment in Savannah which was in a group of row houses. It was on the corner of Gordon and Barnard streets. They lived there until Evelyn was about three years old. The then moved to Jacksonville Florida, where Earl was born.
Childhood
The family returned to Savannah when Evelyn was about five. Her father had built a home at Bona Bella, which was closer to the Atlantic near Thunderbolt. They stayed there for several years before moving out of the city to the country. Their home was located on Ogeechee Road (Atlantic Coastal Highway 17.) They remained there until Charles, Ella and Myron moved to Utah in about 1945. Evelyn and her brothers enjoyed playing in the woods and the canal bank.
Education
Evelyn graduated from Savannah high school in ……. She also attend the Word Preparatory School of Music, where she became proficient in playing the piano.
Courtship?
Evelyn met James Woodrow Distefano in Savannah, where he was serving a mission for the Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He was serving in the Savannah area and attended the Savannah Branch when he met the Hamilton family. He seem to take a “Shine” to Evelyn but nothing was ever spoken or acted upon.
He was often invited to the Hamilton home for dinner and spent his time in the kitchen visiting with Ella while Evelyn entertained the other Elders in the living room by playing the piano. The following commentary about the Hamilton family and Evelyn are excerpts from Elder Distefano’s missionary journal.
November 21, 1940 Thanksgiving , Savannah, Ga.
“This a.m. we went to the room and cleaned up. Later we all visited Bro. Hamilton’s farm “out yonder.” We had a very nice dinner, but no turkey. I think this has been my first Thanksgiving dinner without turkey and my second without Italian Spaghetti.
After dinner we rode up town and brought Sister Evelyn home from work. She is a very attractive girl. I like her quite well, probably better than any girl in the branch, but I say, “Get behind me Satan and don’t push.” Then I can keep away from her.”
December 14, 1940 Saturday, Savannah, Ga.
“This morning I was alone. I sent off my reports then went out to the Hamiltons. They were going out to their farm. They gave me some old shoes, pants and a coat to wear. I enjoyed myself very much, hunting and planting shrubbery. I phoned from the Hamiltons to see if a companion had arrived and sure enough Elder Shea had arrived.”
December 23, 1940, Monday, Savannah, Ga.
“This morning Elder Shea had a tooth bridged in. This afternoon I went out alone and ate dinner at Sister and Brother Wood’s home. After, I went up town. At Lanes Drug Store I drank a soda. Sister Evelyn Hamilton ask me to sit at the table with her while she ate her dinner….. this I did.” (Evelyn worked at Lanes.)
“We talked about the Church, marriage and life in general. That is the first girl I had been alone with that long since I’ve been in the mission field. I think a lot of Sister Evelyn. She is one of the nicest girls I have met on my mission. She would make some man a wonderful wife.”
December 29, 1940, Sunday, Savannah, Ga.
“Today we had a fairly good Sunday School. We ate dinner at the Hamiltons. Sister Evelyn was as attractive and as nice as ever. We had fun teasing each other about married life. Nothing was said or done that broke missions rules. I kept aloof from her. In the afternoon, one of her boy friends came in. We all sat and talked about the common things of the world.”
December 31, 1940, Tuesday, Savannah, Ga.
“This morning we lent two more copies of the Book of Mormon. We at dinner at Sister Cawley’s. Sara Cawley is playing up to me and is trying to make a hit. This afternoon, we lent two more copies of the Book of Mormon. Tonight after Mutual, we all went roller skating down at Daffin Park. The girls were Evelyn, Sara and Vaneta. I helped Evelyn put on her skates. We Elders didn’t skate with any of the girls. After skating, we all went up town. The streets were crowded. In one of the squares, they had a large pile of wood to burn while the New Year came in.”
“President Brundage brought us home. I was laying on by bed when we could hear the whistles, car horn as well as the clock told me the old year was going out and the new coming in.”
January 1, 1941, Wednesday, Savannah, Ga.
“….. I have been thinking a lot about what I am going to do when I return home. I want to go to school very bad. Sometimes I think I should do as Don B. Colton told me to do… and that is to get married as soon as I return. But there is no girl at home that I care to marry. I couldn’t support a wife anyway and I will probably be drafted into the Army when I return. I want an education so what am I going to do???????”
January 15, 1941, Savannah, Ga.
James became ill with serious stomach pains and visited a doctor. “Dr. Metts wanted to put me in the hospital for a minimum of two weeks. I sent a telegram to President Whitaker. I thought I was going to go clear through my mission without having to spend one day in bed.”
January 16, 1941 Thursday, Savannah, Ga.
“No answer to telegram. Came to Oglethorpe Hospital in Savannah at 3:00 p.m. I came walking in just like I had good sense.”
January 20, 1941, Monday, Savannah, Ga.
“Visited today by Sister Cawley and Venetta. Elder Shea, Brother and Sister Hyde and their daughter Jeanette. (Millionaire members Dr. and friends,) Brother and Sister Hamilton and Evelyn. I’m feeling weaker. Pain in my side about the same.”
January 21, 1941, Tuesday, Savannah, Ga.
“Today taken up to the operating room. Found ulcers. I don’t know how much longer I will have to stay here or how long it will take to cure me. Dr. Wilson flattered me when he said, “Just intelligent people have ulcers.” “He said it was because of too much worry, work, irregular eating, plus Southern fried food. He wants to keep me in the hospital for a rest so I will keep off my feet.”
January 23, 1941, Thursday, Savannah, Ga.
“Today President Brunage came in and no particular arrangements were made. Evelyn Hamilton and girl friend visited me. Evelyn didn’t like my yellow pajamas last Monday night so she brought me a nice blue pair.”
February 8, 1941, Saturday
“This a.m. the Dr. told me I could leave the hospital, but he wanted me to stay in Savannah for several days. President Whitaker wants me in Atlanta when I’m able to travel.”
February 9, 1941, Sunday
“Tonight I took charge of probably my last meeting in the South. I was the concluding speaker. After church, I shook hands with many of the Saints for the last time. Their emotions and compliments showed that they did have much love for me.”
“Evelyn was hurt very much tonight for some reason. She is a sweet girl and I’ll have to admit I think more of her than any girl in the South. It has hurt me to see her feel so bad. She is a very beautiful and attractive. She has the characteristics of a Western girl. She stands out from the other girls here. I can see she isn’t extremely happy and wants to secure a place where she can teach music. I sure wish it was within my power to help her…. there might be????
“Tonight I went home with the Hyde family to spend a few days before leaving for Atlanta. I drove the “Big Buick” from church. They have given me a lovely room by myself.”
February 11, 1941, Tuesday, Savannah, GA.
This afternoon, the colored chauffeur took me uptown. I saw the Dr. and went by Lanes and talked with Evelyn a minute. Finished buying my suit, met Janette and Helen in town. After supper we all talked on many interesting subjects. Sister Hyde (Helen) and I talked about past experiences in the Church. She is a very sweet woman and has been like a mother to me.”
February 11, 1941, Wednesday, Savannah Georgia.
“Today was about the same as usual. The kindness that is being showed to me is wonderful. The whole household shows the best kindness. I’m really going to hate to leave.
“Tonight Jeanette and I talked about married life and our ideals. She really is a beautiful girl with beautiful blonde hair. Look out…. Look out.”
“Elder Shea called me up on the phone and read my release from the Southern States Mission.
February 21, 1941, Friday, Savannah, GA.
“This a.m., Dr. Holton said it would be best for me if I had my appendix removed. Bro. Hyde called President Whitaker. The decision was made that I should go to Atlanta. The family didn’t like it, nor did I.”
This p.m. Jeanette and I went for a ride down the Tybee. We are becoming very attached to each other. It seems as though we’ve known one another always. I really do admire her. Each day she grows on me and I find my self thinking more and more of her. What will the outcome be?????”
(James went to Atlanta where he had his appendix taken out. He stayed in the hospital for several weeks. The Hyde family went to Atlanta to be with him and support him. On March 6, 1941, President Whitaker and the doctors decided that James should go home to Utah instead of returning to Savannah. “My health condition at the present is poor. I really hate to return home this way, but I feel the Lord will bless me sufficiently to make the trip home to regain my full health.”)
March 13, 1941, Thursday, Atlanta Ga.
“The Hyde family traveled from Savannah to see me off on the train. They have been so kind. Well, here I go leaving the work I loved. Also leaving hosts of people who were as mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters to me. Will I ever see any of them again???? This has been a day I’ve dreaded to see come. I really feel too sick to travel.”
“A funny thrill came over me as we neared the foot hills of the Rocky Mountains. The higher we climbed, the deeper the snow. I sat on the train thinking of the past…. of the wonderful people I was leaving behind. The farther I’ve traveled the more I’ve been thinking of Jeanette. I feel I love her very much. I’m praying over the situation.”
James entered the LDS hospital when he arrive in Salt Lake City and was there for several weeks at a time… off and on.
January, 1942, Bingham Utah
“This month I’ve worked hard out in the cold. My health is poor and the doctor has told me to go South.” (The Hyde Family ask him to return to Savannah where they would put him in the hospital and help him get well. They wanted to finance everything.) “I’ve received a couple of letters from Jeanette recently and I feel I still love her. I’m going back down South to see. I have fasted and prayed over the situation and I feel that I should go South.”
February 11, 1942, Bingham Canyon
“I left Bingham Canyon for the South. It was hard to leave Joe. (brother) He and I had become closely attached. I traveled through many states. I enjoy the trip “Super” but was tired and worn out from the four days and three nights ride without a bed. I was met at the depot in Savannah by Jeanette and Sister Sara Cawley, thus beginning my second mission in the Southern States.”
End of Diary entries by James.
The Rest Of The Story
Notes From Evelyn.
“From age 19 to 22, I remember the feeling of restlessness. I believe it was because my friends began to be married. I felt my dating experiences were not just as I desired. I began to realize that my chances of meeting someone to match my ideal husband were very remote.” (She then lists boys she dated.)
“Early in the year of 1942, probably in January, Earl and I went to Mutual. Surprised to see Elder James Distefano there. Had been met at the train by Janette Hyde in her Cadillac convertible. He took me home that evening in her convertible after taking her home. He lived at Hydes and we began to date. He secured a job a JC Penneys in the men’s department.”
“And that’s all she wrote.”
Marriage
Evelyn left her home in Savannah the end of July of 1942 to meet James in Salt Lake City. He had returned home to work and prepare for their wedding. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple on 17 August 1942.
Occupation
Interests
Church
Children
Evelyn and Jame had six daughters: Kathryn Louise 1943 – Janis 1947 – Carma Jean 1949 – Sheila 1953 – Gina 1955 – Nicole 1962
Death
Evelyn passed away at her home on 23 December 2010 at the age of 90. She had taken a fall on 5 December 2010 and fractured her upper femur bone. She handled the surgery well and was sent to the Orem Rehabilitation Center for recovery. She became more fragile as the days went by and was taken to her home on 22 December 2010. She passed on December 23rd after being home 17 hours. Evelyn is buried at East Lawn Memorial Hills cemetery in Provo, Utah
