Ginger Lynne Mitchell Hamrick, 68, of Trussville, Alabama, passed away in Birmingham in the early morning hours of Thursday, July 9, 2026. She was born in Birmingham on August 15, 1957.

Known as “Honey” to her grandchildren and to many throughout her community, Ginger spent her life making others feel like family. She was selfless, uplifting, fiercely independent, and endlessly generous with her time and energy. She was always more comfortable giving help than receiving it.

Ginger graduated from Oneonta High School. Before attending college, she worked for four years as an aide in Hewitt’s special education program. She later earned a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Ginger devoted 23 years to Jefferson County Schools, teaching elementary and middle school students across all subjects, including at Chalkville Elementary School and Clay-Chalkville Middle School. After retiring, she continued working part-time with a St. Clair County day program serving at-risk high school students. Recognition and awards were never what mattered most to her. What mattered was the people she served. Ginger's favorite classroom quote was, “It's not always easy to do the right thing, but it is always the right thing to do.”

Ginger understood that love is a verb. She was a person who could be depended on to show up for others in times of celebration and in times of need. She welcomed people into her home, cared for them in practical ways, carried them through hardship, and stayed up through the night when someone needed her. She made people feel like family and continued to love even when it was difficult. Forgiveness was second nature to her; she truly forgave and forgot, and never held a person’s worst moment against them. She loved freely, and she loved strongly.

Much of that love was expressed through the food she made for others. Her lemon cookies were a specialty—those who know, know—but perhaps the clearest measure of how many people she cared for is that everyone seems to name a different favorite thing she cooked for them.

Above all, Ginger loved her children and grandchildren. Her grandchildren were her source of joy, and she was the mother and grandmother everyone wants but no one could ever deserve. She was the foundation of her family and the person others turned to through every part of life.

Ginger is survived by her children, Carrie Norton and her husband, Kelly; Tina Hamrick; and Scott Hamrick and his wife, Kim; her grandchildren, Collin Davis and his wife Kaitlin, Tristan Glover, Braxton Glover, Carrington Glover, Olivia Hamrick, Benjamin Hamrick, Karlee O'Rear and her husband Tyler, their children TJ and Sam, and Joie Norton; her siblings, Jeff Mitchell and his wife, Elizabeth, Tony Pruitt and his wife Jan, and Vikki Willis; and her dearest friend, Debra Hallmark; and her bonus grandson, Glen Hackshaw.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Jim and Carolyn Mitchell; her sister, Denise Eller; Sweet Pea, and Bean, Tina’s beloved dog and Ginger’s granddog.

Public visitation will begin at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home and Gardens in Trussville. A public memorial service will follow at 2:00 p.m., officiated by David Norton.

Pallbearers will be Scott Hamrick, Collin Davis, Tristan Glover, Braxton Glover, Mitchell Eller, Jay Mitchell, Andy Mitchell, and Chris Green.

The family welcomes flowers for the woman who spent her life giving to others and rarely allowed others to give to her.