James Allen Hempstead

Jim was born in Birmingham, Alabama on June 15, 1940 to Norton and Pauline Hempstead. He is a graduate of Woodlawn High School (1958) and the University of Alabama (1965). He married Evelyn Louise Corley on September 7, 1963 at Woodlawn Baptist Church whom he was married to for 49 years before her passing in October of 2012.

Jim is also preceded in death by his sister, Wanda Wilkins and his granddaughter, Adeline Gleeson.

Jim is survived by his son, Scott Hempstead (Annette Iannucci), his daughter Lisa Gleeson (Philip), his brother N. Richard (Jo) Hempstead and three grandchildren, Abigail, Asa and Amelia.

Upon Jim’s retirement in 2017 from the Department of Defense, Defense Threat Reduction Agency Hard Target Research & Analysis Center (HTRAC), where his colleagues “awarded” him a Doctorate of Underground Facility Characterization. Deemed as “The UGF Professor” he was a renowned physicist of superior skill, a distinguished member of an elite team dedicated to reducing the threat to the U.S. from Weapons of Mass Destruction. During his 52 years of service, specific areas of focus included the science used to launch U.S. missiles into space and efforts to protect us all from the use of nuclear weapons. He was recognized as being the person that could always be depended on and for his unwavering commitment to the HTRAC.

After retirement, Jim continued to live in Springfield, Virginia, enjoying the opportunity to serve in his church home at South Run Baptist and be near to his children and grandchildren.

Funeral service will be held at 11am, Thursday, August 21, 2025 at South Run Baptist Church. A reception will be held afterwards in the Fellowship Hall. Burial will be held in March of 2026 at Forest Hill Cemetery in Birmingham, Alabama. Both Jim and Evelyn will be laid to rest at that time.

Memorial Contributions, in loving memory of Jim, may be made to: South Run Baptist Church, 8712 Selger Drive, Springfield, VA 22153. Note: Please include Memorial Prayer Garden on the check.