Stephen Nelson Hampton, born April 27, 1944 and adopted along with his brother in May of 1950 in Columbia, SC, died in his home at 12:15am Wednesday morning, November 13that the age of 75.
Stephen graduated from Therrell High School in Atlanta, GA, where he was active in sports including track, football, and wrestling. He received a wrestling scholarship to the University of Georgia, and later refereed high school and college wrestling and held summer wrestling skills camps.
Steve was a consummate entertainer. He was always quick with a joke, and was a talented singer, song-writer, and guitar player. He has written melodies for numerous Bahá’í prayers, some of which including the Children’s Prayer are known world-wide. He was an actor and director with the Carroll County Community Theater in Carrollton, GA and Vaudeville Murder Mystery Dinner Theater in Chattanooga, TN. He retired from Delta Airlines and later worked as a family photographer with Playtime Portraits.
He was a member of the Bahá’í Faith and spent his life devoted in service to his faith, family, and community. He and his former wife, Joan, met working in a temporary home for children in New York and were later foster parents to several children.
Stephen was preceded in death by his parents Terry Elizabeth Hampton and Edward Nelson Hampton, brother Kenneth Earl Hampton, and wife Deborah Lang Hampton. He is survived by son Chris (Jennifer) Hampton, daughter Laura Hampton, step-daughter Hollin Blaylock, niece Kimberly Bacon, and nine grandchildren, Jesseca, Colby, Naomi, Lindi, Kistler, Avery, Prescott, Kylan, and Sajin.
There will be brief graveside service at Hamilton Memorial Gardens at 5351 Hwy 153, Hixson, TN at 1:00 pm, Friday, November 15th. A memorial service will be held on Saturday November 16that 4:00 p.m. at the Bahá’í Center located at 2405 Hamill Rd in Hixson.
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