Bill and I were BFF’s in Lakeland High School in the late 1950’s.    Our best adventure was a road trip, after our junior year, when Bill and I planned and took to Key West, over 350 miles away, so a 7-8 hour drive each way.   I think we spent one night in the Florida Keys, then at least one in Key West.  We enjoyed all the usual tourist activities and somehow made it home without getting into any trouble.

Dear Amy and Katie,
I am so sorry for your loss and wanted to share with you how much I enjoyed talking with your father and learning from him.  I remember encountering laser discs at your house when we were very young and your father was the first person who ever explained that the movies looked so much better on these than on tv or videotape. Something I never forgot!  His love of the Alabama Theatre and seeing movies on the big screen there captured my imagination and I think about him every time I walk through that grand lobby.  And in the most recent years, how much I looked forward to seeing him in the Little League bleachers-- it was such fun to talk with him as we watched Max and Hampton play.  May his smile and spirit always be a blessing! All my very best,  Michele

Daddy Bill you taught me more about Big Band Music and Turner Classic Movies than I ever wanted to know.  I will miss you terribly.

I started to work at U. S. Pipe in 1963. Three years later Bill stated to work there and we became good friends. We had a Christmas Party at Cascade Plunge and had a great band. When I walked in the party Bill and Shirley were on the dance floor. I thought what great dancers they were.   Bill was always the life of the party. After we retired  Bill and I met for lunch a lot. Bill loved his Girls, his Son-in-law and his grandchildren. We will all miss Bill.       Doris Holder

Always remembering your dad with his infectious smile and his love for you, Katie, and Amy!  Please know your sweet family is in our prayers as you navigate these new days, weeks, and months!  The Kellys love yall!! 

Bill (or Willie Frank) was truly one of a kind.  I have many years worth of fond memories of him.  The most special include the many trips to Florida I was able to go with Bill and Katie in the PACKED DOWN white Ford Escort, usually including a big ol' bag of popcorn that we had leftover from a show at the Alabama Theatre where we had worked the concession stand together.  We had great fun at the Lakeland home (even though we had work to do on the house each time lol), wonderful trips to Disney and Daytona Beach, and the opportunity to visit the Polk Theatre each year.  I was able to see my first (and only) LIVE in person space shuttle launch with the Hamptons from Cocoa Beach one year - it took us multiple day attempts since it kept being delayed, but we saw Atlantis launch!
Bill had the BEST laugh - it's been several years since I've seen him but I can still hear his voice and his laugh, and that brings a smile to my face but tears in my eyes.  I'm thankful to have known Bill and to call him a friend.  Yes, he was my friend's Dad, but he was a great friend to all of us 'theatre kids'.  And oh, what a jokester - we couldn't wait to see what Bill was going to put together for the White Elephant Bingo games on New Year's each year at Freeman's Wedding Chapel.  I could go on and on...

Katie, Amy, Josh, Hampton, Camden, and Peyton - I'm so sorry for your loss.  My thoughts and prayers are with you.
 Hugs and Love to you all!
Lisa (Parker) Jacobs

When Nannie Calcutt died in 1995, Bill sent flowers from Nannie’s pretend boyfriend “Mr. Sydney”. 

So very sorry for the loss of your dad. May God bless you and bring you comfort during this time Faith Love and Family you have so many people who are praying for your family. Sending warm hugs of comfort to you. You are in mine and Omas prayers!!! 

My favorite memory will always be the love of Krispy Kreme doughnuts that Mr. Hampton and I had.  He would always send me Krispy Kreme coupons in the mail or send me a message asking if I had had any good doughnuts lately.  Sweet memories and he will for sure be missed!



Bill was our across the street neighbor when we moved back to Birmingham in 1977. We had bought our first house on what was then 22d Avenue South. As new homeowners, we had almost no tools. Bill had every tool known to man and not only allowed us to borrow his tools, but usually had to come over and show us how to use them. He was generous with both his tools and his time. 

Bill also had a great memory about people. Once, Tommy mentioned to Bill that he made omelets by his mother’s recipe, which called for Hellman’s mayonnaise and that she insisted that they could only be made with Hellman’s. On Tommy’s next birthday, Bill proudly presented him with a jar of Hellman’s mayonnaise 

Bill was a tremendous neighbor and a better friend. We will miss his hearty laugh. 

Bill was a generous, witty, and loving man.  His passion for films and history were contagious.  And his encyclopedic memory was truly astounding.  Though I was only a teenager, I can still remember visiting with him, in his home, as he quietly shared the stories and details behind some of his most prized collectibles. I was also lucky enough to spend many evenings at the Alabama Theatre watching classic films on the big screen. I can still see Bill standing amongst all of his friends in the grand lobby. In fact, it's hard to imagine it any other way. I will always be grateful for the time I was able to spend with someone who got so much joy from sharing his passions with others.

So sorry to hear this news! Whenever we talk about our memories at The Alabama, we can't help but think of Mr. Bill.  He was full of stories and we enjoyed hearing them!

Sending love, prayers, and tight hugs too!


I remember Bill with a huge smile always. He loved his girls and had a wonderful wit! He always seemed to have the last laugh even at his own expense. Funny, dear man. 
Rest In Peace🙏

My memories of Bill are too numerous to recount in this space.  We worked together at US Pipe for more than 25 years.  When I transferred from the Accounting Department to what was then called Methods and Procedures, Bill told me, “That’s the best job I ever had.  If I can’t have it, I’m glad you’re getting it.”  We shared a lot of interests - movies, music, vintage Mustangs and, most especially, the Alabama Theatre.   My first childhood movie and my first date with my husband were at The Alabama so it’s a special place for me.  Bill always made sure I had tickets to headline events including the March 13, 1993 edition of Prairie Home Companion.  I didn’t make the show and Bill chided me endlessly, but the Blizzard of ’93 stranded me at home. Thanks to Bill, I was there for many other shows including the 1989 world re-premiere of Gone With The Wind.  In the early years of the Christmas movie series, Bill gave me dozens of tickets.  “Give them to your friends”, he said.  “We need an audience.”  Bill thought if he could get folks in the theatre just once, they’d be hooked.  He was right - some of those recipients have made Christmas movies at The Alabama an annual family tradition.  I’m so grateful for Bill’s contributions to The Alabama.  His legacy of dedicated service there is exceeded only by his devotion to his daughters.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                          
As a co-worker, Bill was kind, helpful, and hard-working with a wonderful sense of humor.  As a friend, he was supportive, trustworthy and always had a sympathetic ear.  He’ll be missed by all of us privileged to know him and call him friend.  My deepest sympathy to Amy and Katie.


I can't remember Bill without a smile on his face. Like, maybe never.  He was such a happy person to have in the neighborhood that we grew up in.  I saw him in my adult years as well.  Always at the WalMart. He remembered me immediately and still had that wonderful smile on  his face and great chuckle as we talked.  He was larger than life to me as a child and still had that persona about him in later years.  This earth lost a good one! 

I will always associate Mr. Bill with movies.  At The Alabama, of course, but also in his home.  With great patience he changed out the Laser Discs from Grease to Grease 2 every time Katie and I asked (which was a LOT) because we weren't allowed to touch the discs.  He was the only person I ever knew who had a machine like that, and I thought it was the coolest thing in the world.  I loved watching movies there!  Katie and Amy, you and the entire family will remain in my prayers.  May your memories be a blessing. 

Bill and I worked together at the Alabama Theatre.  I learned a lot from that time and he always made it so enjoyable to work with him.
Thankful, I just heard from him recently and will miss him.


There were all the lovely times I spent in Bill's office, when he was treasurer of Birmingham Landmarks. Whatever amount of money we brought down from the box office, after a movie, was what there was. He & Dan Liles would re-count & re-balance; with some of my partners, we didn't always balance. Mostly, one of us would give a customer too much money back; and that was okay. He would make a joke about it. We were bringing in money to support the theatre; that was what was important.

Bill had just become a member of the Alabama Theatre family, when he inherited a little house from his former neighbor & friend, Mrs. Rucker. Several of us helped him move in; I'll never forget helping to move every copy of "Life" magazine ever published, nicely bound! Bill was one of the most kind and generous people I've ever known. The wing chair of Mrs. Rucker's that he gave me, is still my favorite reading chair.

He was my boss for around 20 yrs.  enjoyed working for him.  We went through good times & bad together.  When I went through my divorce he made me a funny list of why I should be happy:  don’t have to go to in-laws every Sunday for lunch.  Don’t have to wait up til wee hours in the morning for husband to come home from union meeting etc.  and when child sick he understood!

Love the picture you posted, that big smile is the way I remember him. We were friends in High school and we had our little group that stood by the lockers until the bell rang. Bill was always smiling, laughing and always had something funny to say, never saw him upset! If I remember correctly he was the Salutatorian of our senior class at Lakeland High school. We saw each other several times through the years once at church with his family and several class reunions always with a smile. He will be greatly missed! 

I volunteered at the Alabama Theatre with Bill in the late '80s. I was only a teenager, about the same age as his older daughter, Amy, but he treated me the same as he did any of the adult volunteers. The Phantom of the Opera silent film was an annual event at the Alabama where the organist was brought in via coffin by six, hooded pall bearers. One year when we were both two of those six, Bill got the idea to go to the exit of the theater's parking deck -- now the McWane Center parking deck -- and wave to the people leaving after the show and asked me to come along. We had so much fun doing it and the patrons seemed to enjoy it, too. Despite his age, Bill was always young at heart.

Bill was my boss when I began working at U.S. Pipe. He was a joy to work for, always full of laughter and fun.  Bill was one of a kind and I am grateful to call him friend.  

I worked so many years with Bill.  So many memories.  When my sister was pregnant with her first child, Bill told me his daughters name was Amy.  My sister and I both loved the name, too.  We have an Amy in our family, too.    When I adopted my daughter, Bill was right there he gave me some great advice - write dates on the backs of every picture, cause you don’t think you’ll forget, but you will!   And he loved the Alabama Theater so much.   I took my daughter there when she was little and he gave us a special tour.  I’ll never forget it.   He is forever linked with that theater in my mind.    We haven’t had that many lunches with our retiree group, but Bill was there.  Always with a smile and laugh.  We will all miss him so very much.  Prayers for his family.  

Connie McCreless

Memory:  while most people snack on chips or candy while watching TV, I always thought it fascinating he snacked on whole cucumbers!!!!

Also, movie time meant one of his girls would be curled up in his lap.  He adored you both so much.

This man we simply called "Boss" in Accounts Payable at US Pipe for so many years will be missed...we loved his jokes and his compassion for his group of ladies.  One memory that stands out for me is how he would get us to find an invoice that would be missing and the one that found it would get a half day off.  
Rest in peace "Boss"!!!


I was friends with Billy in Junior High in Lakeland Florida. I had a crush on him. We never dated but I tell my husband that he was an old boyfriend. I am 6’3” and my friends would ask how tall I was and I would say there’s a phone in my shoe call up and find out. We had fun at school. I have this picture of Billy and his parents I will upload. So sorry to hear of his passing. We were Facebook friends but didn’t talk much. My prayers for you girls and grandchildren. Remember the good times you had with him.  Mary Harrison Lucier.

Bill will truly be missed. I worked with him for 8 years at U.S. Pipe. He was such a sweet man, always smiling and telling funny stories. He was always talking about his daughters and his love for the Alabama theater! I have great memories of him from many work Christmas parties and it was always fun when we would dress up for Halloween. I am happy that I was able to remain connected with him through Facebook after all these years. Prayers for the family. 

Bill came to visit Sean and while he was here, we canned peaches and tomatoes. Oh how he loved to can. We had a wonderful time. I also became a recipient of Coca Cola treasures from him on numerous occasions. RIP Bill, I will miss you. ❤️❤️❤️

OBITUARY

William Frank Hampton, Jr.

March 22, 1942 – December 31, 2021

Johns-Ridout's Funeral Parlors

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