Sonia “Sissy” Hammonds was born on August 4, 1972, in Yonkers, New York to Harriet “Tee” Hammonds Young and James “Sonny’ Winstead, Jr.
She attended Yonkers Public Schools and was an active member at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church. She worked most of her life in the healthcare field including positions at St. John’s Riverside Hospital and Hudson River Healthcare; both in Yonkers, New York. After relocating to Williamsburg, Virginia she desired more regular work hours to spend time with her family and began working in the hospitality sector. Her last place of employment was at the Vacation Village in Williamsburg, Virginia.
“Sissy,” as most people called her, was known for her work ethic, she was “on her grind” nearly all her waking hours. Sissy worked hard and played hard. When she finally took time away from her job, she loved a good game of bid whist, a relaxing drink, and a good laugh. Anyone who knew Sonia knew she was incredibly kindhearted. She loved her children, and her grandchildren were her heartbeat. Although she wore her work scrubs day and night for years, she regularly worked double shifts to ensure her children had all they needed. She had a love for fashion design. If you knew her, you also knew where you stood with her, she was never one to hold her tongue “she said what she said” and that was Sissy’s way.
Sonia “Sissy” Hammonds, at the age of 51, passed away unexpectedly on January 15, 2024, with her daughter, Kenyatta by her side. Her family, devastated by the circumstances of her sudden departure from this life now look to God for the comfort they once found in her smile.
Her memories will forever remain with her two children, Roshawn Weir and Kenyatta Hammonds; grandchildren, Adonis, Damien, Denzel, Izaiah, Kashlynn, Kasidy, and Zion; parents, Harriet “Tee” Hammonds Young and James “Sonny” Winstead Jr (her hero); two sisters, Sonisha Winstead and Shayla French Preston; three brothers, Kirk Porter, James Winstead III, and Troye Cornwall; and a host of other loving relatives and friends, all of whom will miss her more than words can say.
Exodus 23:20 “Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.”
A service to celebrate Sissy’s life will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, February 3, 2024, in Whiting’s Funeral Home. Ms. Hammonds may be viewed in the chapel on Saturday beginning at noon until the hour of her service.
