Beloved actress Lynn Hamilton, best known for her role as Donna Harris on Sanford and Son and as Verdie on The Waltons, has passed away at the age of 95.

Hamilton began her career in theatre and made her television breakthrough in the 1970s. On Sanford and Son, she portrayed the dignified and strong-willed girlfriend, and later fiancée, of Fred Sanford opposite Redd Foxx. She also went on to play Miss Verdie in The Waltons, leaving a lasting mark on audiences.

Her career spanned more than five decades, with memorable appearances in Roots: The Next Generation, Generations, Dangerous Women, The Golden Girls, NYPD Blue, Cold Case, and many more. Born in Mississippi, she trained in drama, performed on Broadway, and eventually became a familiar face in households across the country.

Her family and colleagues remembered her as a trailblazer and a woman of grace, whose legacy will continue to inspire future generations.