Mrs. Ernestine Murray Hamrick, 84 of 114 Dixon Dairy Rd. Kings Mountain, NC passed away on Sunday, September 13, 2020 at Testa Family Hospice House in Kings Mountain. She was born on November 14, 1935 in Cleveland County, NC to the late Rev. Sloan Murray and the late Mary Lee McCleary Murray.

She departed this earthly life surrounded by her children. Earnestine, or Tina as her family called her, was full of life and love. Her almost 85 year legacy of compassion and care is a reflection of her pure heart and the epitome of a woman worth more than rubies. It didn't matter who you were, she was always there ready to love you, feed you, and send you on your journey with only one request, "you be good".

Clothed with strength and dignity, Tina was a woman with many gifts. Many of those gifts were put to work while serving in her church, Long Branch First Baptist in Grover, NC. She was a Sunday school teacher for many years and instilled the Word of God into the hearts of generations of children. She also served as the church custodian for several years, preparing the place of worship for each of its services. She was an Inspirational Choir Member, a member of the Kitchen Committee, the Pastor's Aide Committee, the Usher Board, and was also a Deaconess. She was also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star.

However, her true gift was rearing children. Tina married the love of her life, Jake Hamrick, at the young age of 18 and immediately began to work in her calling of a caregiver. She raised the couple's 7 children and built their home over the years. When her children were adults, she went to work at Spectrum Dyed Yarns, in Kings Mountain but that didn't last long. Her calling pulled her right back out of working for the manufacturing company to working for her legacy. She quit working and started nurturing the next generation of children, not just her own either. She would babysit for the neighborhood children, children from church, as well as her grandchildren. When they weren't in school, you could often find the house or backyard full of youth. There was not a way to identify which were her direct descendants and which were not because to all of them, she was Mawmaw.

As her family continued to grow she continued to be devoted to caring for them. She would host family dinners to ensure everybody was together, providing all the potato salad, sweet tea, and pound cake your heart could desire. She made sure those grandbabies were entertained too by adding a playset and basketball court to the back yard. If necessary, she even let you make her home yours...whether there was space or not, as long as her family was safe and together.

While she is joining her parents and husband in heaven, all the seeds she's sown will be remembered here on Earth by her 5 sisters; Beatrice Adams, Marion Hunt, Mary Frances Johnson, Cora White, and Pearlie Brown (Marvin). In addition to her 7 children; Ronald Hamrick (Tonkya), Gayla Crocker (Vernon), Ernest Hamrick (Liz), Jay Hamrick, Trina Kimble, Stevie Hamrick (Susan), and Kathy Martin, she is survived by 20 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild. She also leaves three very special friends, Mrs. Cordelia Hogue, Mrs. Virginia Perry, and her sister-in-law, Rev. Rebecca Bell; along with a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, and family friends.

The funeral service for Mrs. Hamrick will be private. She can be viewed from 9:00 AM until 12:00 PM on Friday, September 18, 2020 at S.T. Enloe Memorial Chapel. Burial will take place at Long Branch Baptist Church Cemetery in Grover, NC. Condolences can be expressed online at www.enloemortuary.com. Enloe Mortuary is in charge of the arrangements.