Mark Shuford Hamilton

Mark Shuford Hamilton, the son of Atty. Vanzetti Morris and Arbra (Bonds Fullerton) Hamilton, was born on February 23, 1954 in Ann Arbor, MI. He departed this life on March 10, 2026 at Villa at Willow Place in Ypsilanti, MI.

He grew up as the eldest of four siblings, first on Emmet Street then on Wilson Avenue in Ypsilanti, MI. He matriculated through Estabrook Elementary School, West Junior High School, then graduated from Ypsilanti High School in 1972 where he played clarinet in the band. At an early age, he was baptized and gave his life to Christ at Second Baptist Church in Ypsilanti, MI and joined Hartford Memorial Baptist Church upon moving to Detroit, MI as an adult. He was loyal to God and never lost his faith.

He was a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., having crossed the burning sands in the Spring of 1974 at Morehouse College’s Pi Chapter. He recently celebrated 50 years of being a member of Kappa Alpha Psi in 2024. He was also a member of the national academic honor society, Phi Beta Kappa. He graduated from Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science (Summa Cum Laude) in 1976 and graduated from University of Michigan Law School in Ann Arbor, MI with a Juris Doctor in 1979. On October 18, 1980, he married Marie Milligan Hamilton at Second Baptist Church in Ypsilanti, MI and to that union Quinn Marie Hamilton was born. He was a practicing attorney for 41 years, retiring from years of service as Ypsilanti Township attorney for the 14-B District Court Public Defenders in 2020. His greatest joys in life included telling jokes and laughing, storytelling, University of Michigan football, and enjoying listening to a number of musical genres. He was also passionate about genealogy, describing the lives of all the members of our family tree to anyone who showed interest. He would readily engage anyone in conversation on a variety of topics and kindly offered support to all those who needed legal advice or assistance. He will be missed dearly and remembered forever.

He is survived by his daughter, Quinn M. Hamilton of Detroit, MI (Marie M. Hamilton, ex-wife); his siblings, Lawrence W. Hamilton of Seminole, FL (Lisa J. Hamilton, wife), Laura J. Hamilton of Lawrenceville, GA, and John E. Hamilton of Ypsilanti, MI; one niece, Lauren E.J. Hamilton of New York, NY; one nephew, Lawrence W.M. Hamilton, MD of Houston, TX; a host of loving cousins; and innumerable friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, uncles – Donald Hamilton of San Francisco, CA, Theophilus Hamilton of Ypsilanti, MI, Phanuel J. Hamilton of Chicago, IL, Aquilla Hamilton of Ypsilanti, MI, Dalphon Hamilton of Chicago, IL, and Jurel Fullerton, Sr of Battle Creek, MI; aunts – Theresa A.E. Hamilton of Ypsilanti, MI, Lenore Merchant of Chicago, IL, Evelyn Richardson of Battle Creek, MI, Dorothy Slaton of Battle Creek, MI; and a number of cousins.

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