Dr. James Edward Hampton

James was born in New Blaine, Arkansas on May 18, 1929. He was raised in Paris and Mena, Arkansas, by his loving parents William and Marie. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Ouachita Baptist University and Bachelor of Divinity and Master of Divinity Degrees from Southwestern Baptist Seminary. A Doctorate of Divinity was later conferred upon him by his alma mater. James met his first wife, Gena (Ledbetter), at Ouachita Baptist University and they were married on August 13, 1950. James pastored four churches in Arkansas, Texas, and New Mexico before entering missionary service under the Southern Baptist Convention. James and Gena were missionaries in Eastern and Southern Africa from 1956 to 1988, where James took on various assignments including pioneer and church developer in Tanganyika and Kenya, seminary teacher at the Baptist Seminary in Arusha, Tanzania, and Associate Area Director for Eastern and Southern Africa. In 1988, James accepted a role with the Cooperative Service International Department of the International Mission Board in Richmond, Virginia. He retired to Hide-Away-Lake in his new home state of Texas in 1996 and has lived in Marble Falls since 2001.

It was after Gena’s death in 2002 that James found love again at a retired missionary retreat where another former missionary and widow, Ganelle Pearce, caught his eye. They courted for a number of months before tying the knot on March 7, 2003.They continued serving the Lord at First Baptist Church Marble Falls, leading Grief Share groups, hosting many suppers, and journeying on mission trips to Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. James also served as deacon at First Baptist Church Marble Falls and would hold worship services for residents at local nursing homes.

James was passionate about serving his Lord and Savior. He had a deep love for his family, which he heartily extended to his church and missionary families. He loved gardening, hosting friends and family, and singing hymns. We celebrate that his voice has been added to heaven’s choir.

James was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Jeanne, his first wife Gena, and two children, Kathie and Stephen. James is survived by his second wife, Ganelle (Pearce) Hampton, his four children, Connie (Don) Hager, Laura (Kenneth) Garvin, Lisa (Howard) Worthing, and Scott (Janelle) Hampton, and by Ganelle’s children Lal (Terri) Pearce and Jan (Bruce) Tilley. He is also survived by his grandchildren Eric Lindsey, Ryan Brown, Daniel (Kate) Brown, Courtney Garvin, Blake Garvin, Taylor (Lisa) Worthing and two great-grandchildren Ezra and Sadie, Tanner Worthing, Hunter Worthing, Cara (Jose) Jimenez and two great grandchildren Everly and Margo, Jess Worthing, James Hampton, and Jonathan Hampton, as well as Ganelle’s grandchildren Jodi (Carter) Robison and two great-grandchildren Rylee and Reese, Robyn (Brandon) Colquitt and three great-grandchildren Kelly, Brooke and Luke, Leigh (Nick) Cordes and three great-grandchildren Carsyn, Drew and Masyn, Tabette (Ryan) and two great-grandchildren Betty and Sunny, Lindsey (Jason) Neely and great-granddaughter Stella, Jay (Kylee) Daniel and four great-grandchildren J.D., Blakely, Reese and Rhett.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 18, 2024, at 12:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church, Marble Falls, Texas. There will be a visitation prior to the service at 11:00 a.m. in the Koinonia Room at the church for those who wish to visit with the family.

The service can be viewed through the church's website at: https:\\discoverfirst.com/memorial

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Dr. Hampton’s name to the First Baptist Church Marble Falls missions program.