Cherry Edmondson Hampton, 87, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday, March 12, 2022. She was born on January 31, 1935 in Martin County to Roy Sutton Edmondson, Sr. and Louise Matthews Edmondson. Cherry's greatest love was her Lord and she shared the love she had for Him with her children, grandchildren, and others. She was a member of the Oak City Baptist Church where she served as Sunday School teacher, church secretary, and sang in the choir. She loved to remember the birthdays and special occasions of family and friends by sending greeting cards where she always included an "I love you and Jesus does too."

Cherry graduated from Oak City High School in 1952. She attended Peace College in Raleigh. On July 31, 1960, she married Billy Odell Hampton, Sr. They had two children and they both worked hard to provide them with many opportunities. Billy loved to make things out of wood: bookcases, cabinets, storage benches. If Cherry wanted it, Billy would design it and create it for her.

Cherry worked for the North Carolina State Probation and Parole Department in Tarboro where she made many lifelong friends. She retired at age 52. She and Billy were able to spend many afternoons and evenings on the baseball field or basketball court watching their son, Billy J, play. In 1998, her husband Billy, passed away. Cherry loved her children and grandchildren and would go to special school events, sporting events, and band competitions to cheer them on and to show her love and support for them. After Billy passed, she spent time playing cards with the ladies in Oak City. Cherry loved to go places and enjoyed traveling with friends. She was blessed to be able to go to the Holy Land and see the places where Jesus walked. On one trip, she met her trusted and loyal companion, Clayton Everett. They enjoyed going on trips, out to eat, or just sitting on the couch eating ice cream on a Sunday afternoon. This special friendship was a cherished blessing to her.

The last few years, Cherry was in declining health. She was blessed to have the love and support of her wonderful caregivers, Sharon Bunch, Florence Harris, and Brenda Carr.

Cherry was predeceased by her parents, her loving husband, Billy; brother, RS Edmondson; sisters, Alice Wilson and Leiwana "Tieny" Rawls.

She is survived by her daughter, Abbey Whitford and special friend, Paul Melson, of New Bern, her son, Billy and wife Julie, of Raleigh, grandchildren, Erin Droese and her husband, Sean, Andrew Whitford, Milly and Ellie Hampton, special friend, Clayton Everett of Robersonville, former son-in-law, Wyatt Whitford, nieces and nephews, Marilyn E. Hesser (Doug), Lawrence Rawls, Jr. (Julie), Sutton Edmondson, (Wanda), great nieces and nephews: Hannah (Brian), Matthew, Seth, Elizabeth, Mary (Caleb), Sarah, Hank (Katelyn), Schulyer (Lyndon) and great-great nephews, Henry and Eli.

A celebration of life will be held at Oak City Baptist Church at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, March 16, 2022.

Burial to follow at the Oak City Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, March 15 at the Oak City Baptist Church from 6:30 – 8:00 PM.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Oak City Baptist Church, PO Box 39, Oak City, NC 27857 or Oak City Volunteer Fire and Rescue Squad, PO Box 190, Oak City, NC 27857.