Rev. Stephanie Hamilton
Minister of Congregational Life
Office: (804) 358-2383 ext. 116
Pronouns: she/her
Favorite Bible Verses: Psalm 32:8; Romans 8:26; Isaiah 40:1, 28-31
Movies: Black Panther, The Sound of Music
TV Shows: Death in Paradise, The Mallorca Files
Podcasts: Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me; Hidden Brain
Music: Carrie Newcomer, Enya, Bob Marley, 70s music
I am a native of Kingston, Jamaica, where I grew up in the Anglican Church and had a deep sense of awe of God at an early age. We moved to my mum’s homeland of Grand Cayman when I was 14 years old, where I completed high school, and was very active in the Baptist Church. I went on to do my Bachelors at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. During my university journey, I volunteered in a men’s prison with a social work group, and became interested in prison chaplaincy. While at seminary in Louisville Kentucky, my first chaplain internship in a rehab hospital confirmed my call to the hospital setting. After completing my Masters of Divinity, I embarked on a Chaplain Residency at UNC Chapel Hill’s Trauma Center and was ordained in 1992. I served at hospitals in Monroe and Charlotte North Carolina, before moving to Richmond in 1997.
I began at VCU in the fall of 2000. Over the years at VCU I served primarily in the areas of trauma, bereavement, and team member support, also teaching and mentoring with students. I served at St. Francis Medical Center with Bon Secours from 2012-2016. I returned to VCU in August 2016, resuming my previous responsibilities, serving in the hospital and teaching there until December 2024.
In recent years I discerned a shift in my call, to branch out from journeying with people during critical seasons of their lives in the hospital setting, to serve more in the daily rhythms of people’s lives, through the local church.
I am passionate about creating safe and inviting spaces for people to feel respected and welcomed, where they can be real about their hopes, griefs, dreams. I enjoy empowering persons in all of who they are becoming.
I am grateful and have a sense of wonder for this opportunity to serve, grow and learn together at First Presbyterian Richmond.
My husband Mike serves as Chaplain at The Virginia Home here in Richmond. We have two amazing children, Jonathan and Carrie, who now have their own homes and beautiful partners. As a family we enjoy the outdoors, including campfires and hiking.
I enjoy dancing, word puzzles, reading, and digging in the yard. I aspire to host individuals and groups at Hamilton Woods RVA, when I retire.