Yoko M. Hamilton

Yoko M. Hamilton, 91, of Charleston, SC, passed away on Monday, January 29, 2024. 

Born on March 3, 1932, in Tokyo, Japan. She formerly lived in Tampa, Florida  and Greensboro, NC before moving to Charleston, SC. 

Yoko was a talented artist and loved to paint in watercolors, acrylics and other media. She waitressed and hostessed at the area's first local Japanese Restaurant and used her sewing talent to make the kimonos for the servers.  Her creativity is evident in her collection of handmade and dressed dolls, which represented legendary characters in Japanese history. An ancient craft, the intricately crafted dolls were made from doll kits purchased in Japan.

Yoko took pride in being an extra in the movie "Green Berets".  She had pictures made with John Wayne on the set.  She loved her poodles and bichon she owned over the years, and she always groomed them herself. 

Yoko was also an excellent cook and had an enviable green thumb!

In addition to her parents, Yoko is preceded in death by her husband, John W. Hamilton.

Yoko is survived by her son, Mike Sasagawa; brother-in-law, Ron Hamilton (Libby); sister-in-law, Teresa Bender; sister-in-law, Donna Barrett (David); brother-in-law, Donnie Hamilton (Tammy); and several nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, February 1, 2024, from 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM at McAlister-Smith Funeral Home West Ashley. 

The graveside service will be held at 12:30 PM on Friday, February 2, 2024, at Holy Cross Cemetery in Charleston, SC. 

Expressions of sympathy may be viewed or submitted online at www.mcalister-smith.com. 

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to McAlister-Smith Funeral and Cremation, 2501 Bees Ferry Road, Charleston, SC 29414, (843) 722-8371.