Frances Hampton

Friends and relatives of Frances Killian Hampton, of Stanley, NC, are saddened to learn of the passing of Frances on Friday, April 13, 2018 at Olde Knox Commons in Mecklenburg County.

Frances was 89 years old, having been born on April 25, 1928 in Gaston County, NC to Jessie Claude Killian and Rena Sifford Killian. The Sifford and Killian relatives are scattered in this area. Frances was a direct descendent of Lorentz Derr, who came to Lincoln County in 1749 from Germany.

Survivors are an older brother, Claude Alonzo Killian, 95, of Stanley, NC, and two sons; Richard Howard Hampton, Jr. and his wife, Tracie, of Huntersville, and William Kimball Hampton of Stanley, NC, daughter-in-law, Angela McGee Hampton of Stanley, NC, five grandchildren; Sarah Hampton Rochelle and husband, Andrew of Huntersville, NC, Brittany Hampton England and husband Bryant of Stanley, NC, Amanda Jane Hampton, Katelyn Frances Hampton, both of Kings Mountain, NC, Richard Howard Hampton, III and wife, Michelle of Harrisburg, NC. Danielle, the oldest daughter of William and Lisa, died in 2013. Frances is also survived by three great-granddaughters; Sadie Jade Hampton of Stanley, Rosalia Gene Rochelle of Huntersville, Hadley Nicole Hampton of Harrisburg, and six great-grandsons; Logan James Hampton, Connor Wade Hampton, both of Harrisburg, Hunter Lee Heffner, Cooper Ray Heffner, Ryder Ray Heffner, all of Kings Mountain, and Thomas Killian Rochelle, of Huntersville.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Howard Hampton; sons, Robert Killian Hampton and John David Hampton; siblings, John Wiley Killian, Jessie Killian, Vera Mae Killian, and Isabell Killian.

Mrs. Hampton grew up on the family farm in Gaston County, with her three sisters and two brothers. In August of 1946, after graduation from Mt. Holly High School and Carolina Business School, she went to work for Belk's in Charlotte and served as secretary to John M. Belk. Following her marriage to Richard Howard Hampton on April 15, 1950, they moved to Charlotte where they raised four sons before they moved back to the family farm. Her husband died in 1980, after a happy retirement time. After his death, Frances sought a new career in the newspaper field, working for The Mecklenburg Gazette in Davidson, NC-a job which served her well, assuaging her grief from her husband's death. Her later years found her writing historical stories of her family and the area around her home. Frances worked in the ministry of Rev. Robert D. Wilcox and helped to plant the SouthLake Presbyterian Church (P.C.A.) and SouthLake Christian Academy on Lake Norman. Many rewarding hours were spent working in this ministry.

Memorials may be made to Martha's Chapel Cemetery Fund, c/o Donna Moose, 1244 Killian Farm Rd., Stanley, NC 28164.

Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Monday, April 16, 2018 at James Funeral Home of Huntersville. Burial will follow at Martha's Chapel Cemetery. The family will receive friends Monday from 10-11 a.m. at the funeral home.

Online condolences may be made at www.jamesfuneralhomelkn.com.