~ IN MEMORY OF ~

John Henry and Phoeba Jane (Roberts) Hampton*

photo one

John Henry and Phoeba Jane (Roberts) Hampton*

photo two

b Oct 1851 Buncombe CO, NC d 21 May 1927 Grandview, Cherokee CO, NC buried Hanging Dog Baptist Church Cemetery, Cherokee CO, NC

b Nov 1846 Cherokee CO, NC d 1 May 1929 Grandview, Cherokee CO, NC buried Hanging Dog Baptist Church Cemetery, Cherokee CO, NC

Many, many thanks to Bill Allen and the Dockery Family Association for these photos which are more descriptive than words could ever tell! The first photo above was taken when they were younger. Grandpa Hampton's expression reveals spiritual contentment and a deep-seated happiness. The second photo depicts him in a familiar pose -- standing with his Holy Bible in hand and leading a congregation during a church service. He served as a Baptist minister for many years with the Hiawassee Baptist Association, pastoring churches such as Grandview in Cherokee County, NC.

In each of the photos above, Grandma Hampton is wearing one of her beloved hats. She was the daughter of Reason and Mary "Polly" (Allen) Roberts and so a granddaughter of Cherokee County, NC's first hatter, James Allen. Whether her Grandfather Allen made these two hats remains a mystery; yet, in every picture, she wears a different hat. These photos, although damaged by water and stains through the years, reveal her affinity for "dressing up." She was fastidious about her appearance. A granddaughter Gussie (Hampton) Ervin remembered Grandma Hampton dressing in the bedroom of her son's home at Liberty Hill in the Knobs. Aunt Gussie said that Grandma wore hand-knitted socks which Grandma herself always made. The threads interconnected like cubes, typical of shawls in the early days. Grandma spent a lot of time and effort in pulling on her stockings. Aunt Gussie chuckled and recalled how particular she had been in getting those stockings perfectly straight. Grandma was not only skilled in knitting but in sewing as well, and according to Aunt Gussie, she had made the wedding dress for her daughter-in-law America (Davis) Hampton.

* maternal great-great-grandparents of Sandra (Nipper) Ratledge

This site is dedicated to the memory of my parents, Tommy and Beulah (Cline) Nipper.

Homespun
Graphics
by
Sandra Ratledge

All you kinfolks, put some mail in that old box!