Captain Kimberly Hampton
Kimberly was born August 18, 1976 in Greenville, SC. We always called her our miracle baby…because by then we had been married for twelve years, and had almost given up hope of being parents.
When she was just a toddler, Kimberly seemed to fall down more than other children, and we were concerned…the pediatrician confirmed our worst fears that she needed corrective shoes and may never be able to run without falling. Overcoming this obstacle was only the first test…she later was diagnosed with scoliosis, then severe allergies. Any one of the above would have kept a less determined person down, but not our baby girl. She seemed to attack each health issue the same way she attacked every task she ever faced…full steam ahead!
Elementary school at Forest Acres and West End, then Easley Junior and Easley High School paved the way for one year at Furman University and three years at Presbyterian College. During those years she met and was influenced by many people, but she admired no one more than EHS Naval Junior ROTC commander, Captain Jim Franklin. His dedication, professionalism, passion for his job and compassion for his students inspired her and set an example that she held as a standard for the remainder of her life. With CPT Franklin nurturing her emerging leadership abilities, she began to consider a military career…a decision that she never regretted.
Kimberly was such a memorable person that her good friend Kelli not only holds fond memories of their time together but she also reflects back to Kimberly’s likes, dislike and even pet peeves…
- Kimberly’s pet peeve was someone not giving 100%
- Kimberly disliked losing, not feeling like she could give 100% at everything she was doing
- Kimberly liked working out, running, laughing hard, singing at top of lungs in the car with windows down and sunroof open, Indigo Girls music, her blue PC tennis hat, all her hats really — she also wore the ARMY hat a lot, CLEMSON in general.
Kelli remembers…
- In college, Kimberly was so tired all the time because of a full class load, ROTC, and tennis – would sleep at the drop of a hat when she could (in the car on the way to a match, for example)
- Kimberly prepared for matches by listening to music…from Rocky movies
- That Kimberly’s forehand was INCREDIBLE!
- Kimberly focused her attention and gave good eye contact when she was listening
- Kimberly crying with her about heartbreaks and breakdowns
- Begging Kimberly to be careful (usually just in general, but definitely related to going overseas)
- Fun in San Francisco on spring break with the tennis team
- Watching Kimberly and Chrissie play doubles together — dynamite!
- Visiting Kimberly in flight school and going to a party dressed like bikers
- How she loved it when Kimberly watched her tennis matches — “even her presence was motivating to me!”
- “Watching HER play tennis was definitely one of MY favorite things to do – I would always hope she would still be playing when I was done.”
- The phone call Kelli got when Kimberly was about to jump out of a plane asking Kelli to pray for her
- Kimberly coming to Myrtle Beach to visit after getting back from Ft. Lewis one summer
“I have so many memories of Kimberly. As far as music goes I remember she liked James Brown, Prince (before he changed his name), and Ray Stevens. I still have the tape she dubbed for me from her Ray Stevens collection. I laugh because she wrote on the label “This tape recorded on Kimberly Hampton’s massive stereo system”. I remember playing Nintendo tennis (she always won, BIG SURPRISE!), sleepovers, and always having an afternoon playmate at West End. She was a great dresser, even in sweats she looked so put together. She was just a natural beauty and it radiated from her all the time. I think her favorite flower was a sunflower. She liked riding in the Accord with the sunroof open and windows down. I remember Jackson the Collie that we would run around with in the yard. I remember how happy I was to see her at PC for the first time after she moved in. Sometimes now I go by and visit her for a while…the tombstone is beautiful and I love the picture window.”
~ Katherine Lathem Reid
“When you grow up as a competitive athlete, you are able to see people’s true colors pretty quickly. How someone chooses to conduct themselves in moments of stress and when the match is “on the line” is very telling about their character. I knew Kimberly Hampton because we both were junior tennis players and saw each other very regularly at South Carolina Tennis Association events. Although I never faced her in a match (thank goodness!) because of our difference in gender, I did observer her play regularly because she was my friend. Kimberly’s cool, calm and collected attitude on the court was never missing. Matched with a palpable but quiet intensity—you knew that she was a classy but fierce competitor at all times. I cannot write without also saying that Kimberly just so happened to be extremely beautiful. But, if you were a friend of hers, you knew that her physical beauty was certainly squelched by the magnitude of her kindness and strength of character.”
~ Ryan Lindsay