James W. Hampton

James Wyatt Hampton, son of the late Thomas Wyatt and Kathryn M. Hampton, passed away on Wednesday, February 14, 2024 at the Bishop Gadsden Episcopal Retirement Community in Charleston, South Carolina.  He was born in Greenville County in 1936, educated in the Belton Public Schools, and graduated from Belton High School in 1954.  He graduated with Honors from Clemson University in 1958 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering and was subsequently employed by Duke Power Company in the Steam Production Department.  From 1967-1968, he studied Nuclear Engineering at North Carolina State University, and in 1969 was named Assistant Manager of the Oconee Nuclear Station in Seneca where he was involved with the start-up of Duke Power’s first nuclear power generating facility.

From 1969-1977, Jim and his family lived in Pickens where he was a member of Pickens First Baptist Church and served as a Deacon and Sunday School teacher.  In 1977, he moved to Rock Hill where he served as Manager of Duke Power’s Catawba Nuclear Station.  In Rock Hill, he was a member of Oakland Baptist Church where he served as chairman of the Deacons on two occasions, director of an adult Sunday School department, and sang in the adult choir.  He was instrumental in starting a Boy Scout Troop sponsored by Oakland Baptist Church and served as the Scoutmaster for 3 years.  Jim was also a member of the Rock Hill Rotary Club, and served on the United Way Board, Chamber of Commerce Board, First Federal Savings and Loan Board, and on a Nuclear Safety Advisory Committee for the Savannah River Plant.  In 1991, Jim was named Vice President of Duke Power’s Oconee Nuclear Site and moved to Clemson in 1992.  He retired from Duke Power in 1998 after 40 years of service.  In Clemson, Jim was a member of Clemson First Baptist Church where he sang in the choir and served on numerous committees.  He was a member of the Clemson Rotary Club and served as President from 2004-2005 during Rotary’s centennial year, was a Paul Harris Fellow, and a member of the Clemson Fellowship Club.  Jim moved to the Bishop Gadsden Episcopal Retirement Community in Charleston in 2022.

Jim’s wife Molly preceded him in death in 2021.  He is survived by three sons, Thomas W. Hampton and wife Cheryl of Niceville, Florida; William G. Hampton and wife Jennie of Charleston, South Carolina; and James M. Hampton of Alpharetta, Georgia; and two grandsons, Thomas J. Hampton of Niceville, Florida and Jared W. Hampton of Austin, Texas.

A memorial will be held at First Baptist Church of Clemson, 397 College Ave., Clemson, SC 29631 on Wednesday February 28, 2024.  Family visitation will be at 10:00 am, with the memorial service at 11:00 am and inurnment immediately following at the church columbarium.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Tunnels to Towers Foundation, https://t2t.org/donate.

Please visit RobinsonFuneralHomes.com or Duckett-Robinson Funeral Home & Cremations, Central-Clemson Commons.