Jeane Mussman Hamilton
Mar 6, 1926 - Jun 15th, 2022- Birth Date: Mar 6, 1926
- Death Date: Jun 15, 2022
- Funeral Date: Jun 27, 2022, 4:00 pm
- Location: Arkansas Arts Center Riverdale, 2510 Cantrell Rd, Little Rock AR 72202
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Biography: Jeane Mussman Hamilton passed on peacefully at home on June 15, 2022, after living a blessed life alongside many cherished family members and dear friends.
Born March 6, 1926, in Indianapolis, Indiana, her early childhood was a joyous one filled with many pursuits, including riding and showing horses. She loved learning and was the valedictorian of her high school class. Jeane was a lifelong student of Christian Science and was spiritually fulfilled with this guiding inspiration.
As the young bride of James Knox Hamilton, she moved to Little Rock in 1952. With an academic background in Art History Jeane found herself motivated to improve the somewhat lacking cultural offerings in Little Rock. It was with deep determination that she set out to have an impact upon the local arts scene.
Teaming up with the Junior League of Little Rock, they set a goal of building an art museum that all of Arkansas could enjoy. Between June 1959 and June 1960 over $200,000 dollars was raised. With the help of Gov. Winthrop and Jeanette Rockefeller, the League was able to meet their goal of $650,000 enabling construction of the Arkansas Arts Center. In 2007 she was awarded the Arkansas Arts Council Governor’s Award.
Jeana’s love for and commitment to the AAC spanned over six decades. She was a lifetime member of the Board of Trustees and served on practically every committee. She co-chaired the first black-tie fundraiser, the Beaux Arts Ball.
Her passion for travel and enchantment with cultural differences lead her to develop a unique fundraising vehicle, the Arkansas Arts Center Traveling Seminar program. Working in concert with local travel service, Poe Travel, she conceived and escorted ninety-four group departures around the world, expanding horizons for hundreds of AAC supporters and patrons.
She is survived by her daughter, Martha Louisa Hamilton.
A service of celebration will be held on Monday, June 27, 2022, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Arkansas Arts Center Riverdale, 2510 Cantrell Rd, Little Rock AR 72202.
May you draw comfort from God as he help you to cope with the heavyweight of your loss.
While I did not know your mom, I feel like I knew her, as her name was always in the air in my grandmother’s house. “Jeane Hamilton” and “the Arts Center” were ubiquitous phrases there and often used in the same sentence.
As you know, your mom and my grandmother attended events at the Arts Center and others around Little Rock for decades. They both had similar upbringings and were raised in communities with thriving arts scenes. In Little Rock, they saw something that was missing and worked to make it right. I don’t know how women of that era accomplished so much, but they did, they did it in style, and they kept on doing it throughout their lives.
I’m thinking of your amazing mom today and in the days and weeks to come. Thank you for sharing her with my grandmother, and Arkansas, all these years. We were so lucky to have her, and she was lucky to have you.
I just saw your mother's obituary. I am so sorry for your loss. What a lovely woman she was.