- Lois Hammonds Forte served nearly 22 years as Newberry City Commissioner from 1986 to 2014 and organized the city’s first Christmas parade in 1990.
- Lois Forte Park in Newberry is named after her, honoring her efforts to build Triangle Park and support seniors with community events like Bingo nights.
Lois Hammonds Forte, a former Newberry City Commissioner and namesake of Lois Forte Park in Newberry, died on Saturday at the age of 85.
Forte served nearly 22 years as a commissioner, starting in October 1986 and finishing in April 2014. On top of voting for various water, sewer, cable, electricity and garbage policies, Forte organized the city’s first Christmas parade in 1990.
She is also remembered as a devoted and loving mother, grandmother, sister and friend to many, according to an obituary from Milam Funeral Home.
A celebration of life and homecoming services will be held on Saturday, June 20, at Milam Funeral Home (22405 W Newberry Rd., Newberry). A visitation will start at noon, followed by a funeral at 1 p.m. with internment at City of Newberry Cemetery (1905 SW 260th St.).
“She was a mentor of mine as a freshman Commissioner,” posted Newberry Mayor Tim Marden to Facebook. “I truly appreciate her service to our community. I’ve often said we have the good fortune to stand on the shoulders of great people who came before us and she was certainly in that category. RIP Mrs. Forte.”
Forte was born on December 10, 1940, in Chadbourn, North Carolina, to parents Eddie Graham Hammonds and Vernie Mae Strickland Hammonds. She was one of seven siblings and part of the Cherokee Lumbee Tribe.
Forte moved to Newberry in 1977 and opened Lois’ Cherokee Creations, where she sold Indian crafts and ran a hair salon. At one time, she was one of only 11 Native Americans in the city.
Forte also had a passion for serving Newberry senior citizens and children.
She championed the construction of Triangle Park as a place for children to play. In 2014, the park was renamed Lois Forte Park, which now displays Newberry’s Veterans Memorial.
Forte also raised funding from local business owners to host Bingo nights at the Newberry Municipal Building for seniors.
“I saw a need and thought it would be great,” Forte told The Gainesville Sun in 2004. “We’re just one big happy family.”
Forte is predeceased by her parents, husband James Randall Forte and three sisters, Kathleen Hammonds Norton, Gladys Hammonds and Elena Dos Santos.
She is survived by her son and former Alachua Police Department Deputy Chief Stephen F. Hammonds, daughters Sandra Hammonds Marin (Texas) and Sophia Helt (Scott) (Hernando), nine grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and sisters Helen Hawkins (North Carolina), Judy Williams (New Jersey) and brother Eddie Graham Hammonds Jr. (North Carolina).
“Nan, it was a blessing to be your granddaughter,” Kayla Hilt posted on Forte’s funeral page. “When I close my eyes, I can still feel the presence of your home that we had so many memories in, the scent, the family gatherings, the snacks you kept in the jar :), the love you gave to all of your family. All the ‘sugar’ you wanted us to give you. We will always remember your unwavering love. You are now our angel.”