Dorothy Hampton, 97, passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 21, 2016, at her daughter's home in Franklinville, N.C.
Born Nov. 5, 1918, to William and Alberta Wilson Reid, Dorothy was one of 13 children and the oldest girl. She left Augusta for New York City at age 15. She lived in Brooklyn, Ellenville and Hudson, N.Y., before moving to Franklinville in 2013.
She married the late Joseph George Hampton on March 14, 1934. He died August 21, 1997.
Dorothy worked as a domestic, cook and telephone operator. The mother of three biological children, Dorothy opened her heart and home to countless children in foster care, officially adopting four children and obtaining legal guardianship over two.
Although she only had an eighth-grade education, Dorothy instilled the value of education in her loved ones. She was humble and confident, stubborn and kind, and loyal and generous. She loved watching Westerns and action movies as well as anything with Steve Harvey and Channing Tatum. She had a sharp wit and was a wonderful storyteller.
Her life and stories will live on in her sister, Joyce (Richard) Parker of Augusta; her sister-in-law, Ernestine Reid of Manhattan, N.Y.; her children, Edna Hampton, Michelle (Annie) Hampton and Kari (Gary) Harvat, all of Franklinville, N.C.; Clifford (Carmen) Hampton of Climax, N.C.; Joan Skar of Nantucket, Mass.; Maria (Lennie) Coombs of Ellenville, N.Y.; Nishell Hampton of Silver Lake, N.C.; and Lamuar Hampton of Hudson, N.Y.; her grandchildren, Sylvia (Edward "Freddie") Morales of Waterford, N.Y.; Peter Hampton of Clifton Park, N.Y.; Alicia Hampton of Hudson, N.Y.; Sarah Hampton of Catskill, N.Y.; Arianne Napier of Manhattan, N.Y.; Jordan Hampton of Queens, N.Y.; Jeffrey (Sarah) Hampton of Climax, N.C.; Nihaja and Xeyvier Hampton of Silver Lake, N.Y.; and Latricia Ridley of New Paltz, N.Y.; her great-grandchildren, Astoria Hampton, Shirley Edwards and Christopher Edwards, all of Hudson, N.Y.; Ayden Hampton of Queens, N.Y.; Ava Hampton of Manhattan, N.Y.; and Olivia Hampton and Peter Alexander Hampton, both of Clifton Park, N.Y.; special friend, Jessica Drake of Nebraska; and numerous nieces and nephews, including Betty Matthews, Doris Colwell and Arthur Reid, all of Augusta.
Among those who preceded her in death are her husband of 63 years, Joseph, and her daughter, Leslie Hampton.
The family wishes to thank the staff of Hospice of Randolph County for their loving and compassionate care of Dorothy. Thanks to their care, and that of her daughter, Edna, Dorothy was able to live out her life at home.
A private graveside service will be held Thursday, April 28, 2016. She will be laid to rest next to her husband in Fantinekill Cemetery in Ellenville, N.Y.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in her name to Hospice of Randolph County, 416 Vision Drive, Asheboro, NC 27203.