Obituary: Richard Anthony Hampton
Richard Anthony Hampton, 66 of Toone, passed away at Jackson Madison County General Hospital on September 6, 2026. Visitation will be held on Saturday, September 12, 2026 at Shackelford Funeral Directors in Bolivar and from 12:30pm until 2:30pm. A graveside service will follow at 3:00pm at Rainey Cemetery in Toone with Anthony Vaughn officiating.
Richard was born in Jackson, Tennessee, in 1960 and lived the majority of his life in Toone, Tennessee. As a teenager, he developed a lifelong love of all things cars and trucks. He graduated from Bolivar Central High School in 1978 and was a member of Toone Baptist Church.
Richard owned very few vehicles throughout his life, largely because when he found something he liked, he took great pride in keeping it and taking very good care of it. His prized possession was his 1995 Chevrolet Silverado, which he maintained for 31 years. With its original motor, the truck ultimately registered an impressive 476,488 miles; a testament to Richard’s patience, care, and appreciation for the things he valued.
In addition to his love of cars and trucks, Richard was an avid NASCAR fan and attended many races throughout his lifetime. He looked forward to college football season and was a loyal fan of the Tennessee Volunteers. These interests gave him plenty to talk about, share with others, and enjoy throughout the years.
After graduating from high school, Richard joined his father in the family business, where he learned the many skills of home improvement, including carpentry, painting, plumbing, and electrical work. Under his father’s guidance, Richard developed not only a talent for the trade, but also the values of hard work, honesty, and taking pride in doing a job right.
Richard later moved into sales in the home-building materials industry, where he quickly earned the respect and trust of those he worked with. His extensive knowledge of building products, combined with his straightforward and honest approach, made him a valued resource to both customers and colleagues.
After several years in sales, Richard decided to follow in his father’s footsteps and strike out on his own, putting his home-improvement skills to work for families throughout the area. His reputation for quality workmanship, fair consideration of material costs, and honesty spread quickly. He was soon in great demand, primarily serving customers throughout Hardeman, Madison, and Henderson counties.
Much like his father before him, Richard understood that a job was more than simply fixing or building something. When he completed a project, customers often called him again and again over the years. Many of those customers became friends, returning not only for Richard’s expertise, but also for his thoughtful advice, good humor, and the genuine care he showed for the people he served. His work was a reflection of who he was: a skilled craftsman who took pride in doing things right and a good man who valued the relationships he built along the way.
Richard was conscientious and thoughtful in all that he did. One of the qualities people remembered most about him was his ability to remember your name. If he didn’t remember it, he would make a point of asking until he committed it to memory. It was a small but meaningful reflection of the way Richard treated people. He paid attention, he listened, and he made people feel that they mattered.
Richard was the kind of person who would do anything in his power to help his family and friends. Whether someone needed his skills, his advice, a helping hand, or simply someone to talk to, Richard was there. He gave his time freely and never seemed to consider helping others a burden.
Richard leaves behind a legacy built not only through the work of his hands, but through the many lives he touched along the way. He will be remembered for his honesty, his knowledge, his thoughtfulness, his humor, and his willingness to help others. He built much more than homes and repaired much more than what was broken. He built lasting relationships, friendships, and memories that will remain with those who had the privilege of knowing him.
He is survived by his mother, Frances Roberts Hampton; sister, Barbara Hampton Davis (Randy); brother, Thomas Gene Hampton; niece, Jessica Davis Bryan (David); nephew, Daniel Alan Davis (Catherine); great nephews, Raylan Alan Davis and Joseph Michael Bryan; great niece, Annabelle Cate Davis. Richard is preceded in death by his father, Benny Lynn Hampton; paternal grandfather, James Berdon Hampton; paternal grandmother Nannie Mae Landers Hampton; maternal grandfather, Pitser Miller Roberts; and maternal grandmother, Ruth Virginia Lambert Roberts.
In lieu of flowers, the family ask that donations be made to Toone Baptist Church or Rainey Cemetery.
Courtesy of Shackelford Funeral Directors, Bolivar, Tennessee.
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