Hampton C. Childre
1923 – 2020
Hamp Childre’s soul peacefully departed his body on January 17, 2020 at Brookdale Assisted Living, Bluewater Bay. He was born in Dolomite, AL on May 17, 1923, the third child and second son of Clara Kellum Childre and Hampton C Childre, Sr. He graduated from Hueytown High School and was part of the football team that won the State Championship his senior year.
His first job as a welder at TCI Steel Mill Co. quickly convinced him to look for other options. He attended college in Chattanooga, TN before joining the Navy in 1942, working as a gunner, protecting the merchant marine supply ships in WWII. Upon leaving the Navy, he worked for Mall Tool Company in Memphis, TN where he met his wife, Mary. They were married 50 years, until her death in 2002. He was one of the first employees of Omark Industries, selling forestry equipment. When Omark bought Prentice Hydraulics, he joined that team as a regional sales manager. Upon leaving Prentice, he became VP of Marketing for Windham Power Lifts in Elba, AL and he and Mary moved from Decatur, GA to Freeport FL. In 1990, he found a new calling as a real estate agent, continuing actively until 2017. He loved meeting new people and helping them find a home that was right for them. His integrity brought him repeat customers, as recently as 2019.
He will be remembered as a faithful and good husband, dependable and loving Dad committed to work and providing for his family, consummate AL football fan, and as a gentle, kind, generous man. He is pre-deceased by his siblings: Ben Childre, Eileen Glenn, Doris Pearman and Bobbie Missildine. He is survived by his two daughters, Andrea and Frances of Niceville, FL, his beloved niece Joann (Albert) Morton, beloved nephew, Norman Cook, three great nephews: Gordon (Debbie) Morton, Glenn (Michelle) Morton and Ben (Christy) Morton, all of Birmingham, AL.
A Memorial service and celebration of his life will be held at Freeport Presbyterian Church, Hwy. 20, Freeport, FL, where he was an Elder for many years, on Saturday, February 1st at 11 AM. The family will receive visitors one hour before the service. Arrangements were handled by McLaughlin Twin Cities Funeral Home; guest book and condolences are available online at www.mclaughlintwincities.com.
The family would like to publicly thank the staff and management of Brookdale Bluewater Bay for their excellent care, heartfelt warmth and kindness they provided to Hamp. We also thank Emerald Coast Hospice. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Freeport Presbyterian Church.
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