Dr. William Hampton "Hamp" 77 of Melrose

William Hampton (Hamp) Johnson, III, M.D., age 77, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, in Gainesville, Florida. Hamp was born in Gainesville, Florida, on July 10, 1948, to William Hampton (W.H.) Johnson, Jr., and Rosa V. "Mel" Johnson. Hamp grew up in Wildwood, Florida, where he attended Wildwood Elementary and later Wildwood High School. As a student, he excelled both in the classroom and on the football field. He was the quarterback of the 1964 Wildwood Wildcats football team, which captured the Florida Class A state championship. After graduating from Wildwood High School, he went on to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, where he was a proud member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. He also joined the freshman Florida Gators football team before his time on the field was cut short by injury. In 1970, he graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in Mathematics. He returned to Wildwood, Florida, where he taught at Wildwood High School and coached boys' baseball and football teams. After several years of teaching and coaching, he chose to follow his lifelong dream of becoming a doctor, graduating from the University of Miami School of Medicine in 1978. After earning his medical degree, Hamp trained in surgery under the renowned Dr. Michael E. DeBakey at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas from 1978 to 1983. While there, he met Kaye (Pitre) Johnson, the love of his life. From that moment on, they built a life together filled with love, partnership, and 46 years of marriage. In 1983, they moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where he furthered his training in cardiovascular and thoracic surgery. During this time, he also spent time at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, an experience that left a lasting and profound impact on him both personally and professionally. In 1985, they settled in Ormond Beach, Florida, where he began a distinguished career in private practice.

Over the course of nearly four decades, he served the community through Coastal Cardiovascular & Thoracic Associates (1986–2014) and later Atlantic Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgeons, LLC (2014–2023). Hamp was a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and was board-certified by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery (Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery) and the American Board of Surgery – General Surgery. He was a member of the Michael E. DeBakey International Surgical Society, the Volusia County Medical Society, the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, and the Florida Society of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgeons, where he served as President from 2016 until 2018. Hamp cared deeply for his patients, treating each one with compassion and respect. He never gave up on those in his care, and his dedication and persistence were hallmarks of his practice.

While deeply committed to his patients and profession, Hamp's greatest joy was his family. He and Kaye raised four children in Ormond Beach, where he cherished every opportunity to travel and spend time together with his family. He was a devoted father who never missed a chance to show up, whether at school events, games, or important events in his family's life. He was his children's steadfast source of encouragement and support. He believed in them wholeheartedly, pushed them to give their best, and made sure they knew how deeply they were loved. His grandchildren were his pride and joy, and he delighted in every moment spent with them. His life was also firmly grounded in his faith, and he remained a committed member of his church, drawing strength and purpose from his relationship with God. His faith guided him not only as a husband and father but also as a physician, offering comfort to his patients and shaping the compassion, perseverance, and hope he brought to his work.

A man of adventure as well as service, Hamp had a true zest for life and a love of new experiences. He approached challenges with courage and enthusiasm, always eager to make the most of every opportunity. He summited Mount Kilimanjaro in 2011 with two of his daughters and twice ran with the bulls in Pamplona, Spain, embodying the spirit of living fully. After his retirement, Hamp and Kaye continued to embrace life with energy and joy, traveling widely together. They especially cherished cruises, trips to visit their daughter in far-flung places, and journeys that allowed them to spend time with their children and grandchildren, making memories across the world while never losing sight of the simple joy of being together on the lake.

He was preceded in death by his father, William Hampton (W.H.) Johnson, Jr.; his mother, Rosa V. "Mel" Johnson; and his sister, Ann Grainger Johnson. He is survived by his wife, Kaye (Pitre) Johnson; children, Kathryn (Ben) Johnson, Elizabeth (Scott) Meachum, Ashley (Tyler) Tedcastle, and William Hampton (Kelly) Johnson, IV; grandchildren, Maya and William Schonveld, Marcus and Paul Meachum, Collins and Myles Tedcastle, and Reagan and William Hampton (Quinn) Johnson, V; and his brother, E. Bruce Johnson and his wife Diane of Fort Lauderdale, FL.

The family will receive friends at Trinity Baptist Church, 3716 State Rd 21, Keystone Heights, FL 32656 on Thursday, September 4, 2025, from 10 A.M. to 11 A.M. The Funeral Service will begin at 11 A.M. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that memorial contributions be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Jones-Gallinger Funeral Home in Keystone Heights has been entrusted with the arrangements.