Hampton Preston

John Hampton (Hamp) Preston, 90, of Rocky Mount, passed away Friday, February 10, 2012. He was the youngest and last living child of Jasper and Cephronia Foster Preston. He is preceded in death by 4 brothers and 5 sisters. Hamp was a founding member of the Redwood United Methodist Church where he served as Sunday School Superintendent and participated in numerous church leadership roles. He loved his church family and maintained life-long friendships with so many people. He proudly served his country in the United States Army during World War II. He received a Purple Heart While and returned home just as the war was ending. He retired from E.I. DuPont in Martinsville after 37 years of service. He enjoyed working at DuPont and continued to participate in gatherings with his DuPont friends as long as his health allowed. His strong work ethic was evidenced by only missing 3 days of work for illness in the 37 years of employment. He loved camping with his family and friends, Tom and Gracie Via, T.W. and Elaine Chitwood, Madeline and Wesley Hall, Meredith and Dennis Thurman and others. Hamp is survived by the love of his life for 65 years, Annise Grant Preston, children and spouses, Cindy and Barry Smith, Johnny and Jolee Preston, Jackie and Steve Brubaker; 8 Grandchildren Heather and TJ Shepardson, Jamie and Saxton Moss, Joey Preston, Sarah Preston, Ashley and Josh Grice, Riley Brubaker, Tyler Brubaker and Mackenzie England; 5 great grandchildren, Caroline, Layla and Kate Moss, Carter and Lena Shepardson and special nieces Susan Schricker and Donna Schaffer; and special friends Aubrey and Phillis Smith and Richard and Becky Law. Funeral services will be held at Redwood United Methodist Church 2 p.m. Sunday with Reverend Bradley S. Dulaney and Lay Leader Aubrey Smith officiating. Interment will follow at Franklin Memorial Park. The family will receive friends at Flora Funeral Home from 4-7 on Saturday. The family is grateful for the loving care provided by Sarah Preston, Erma Lou Young, Brenda Layman, Joyce Bower & Joyce James over the past two years. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Redwood United Methodist Church Building Fund in Hamp’s name, 3001 Old Franklin Turnpike, Rocky Mount, VA 24151.