Betty Ilene Fry Hampton, a longtime Brownwood resident, church member and Brownwood Regional Hospital employee, died Wednesday, November 11, 2026, at age 90. Funeral services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Monday, November 16, at Austin Avenue Church of Christ in Brownwood.
The family will receive friends at the church from 1 to 2 p.m. before the service. Hampton’s life in Brownwood included decades of service through her church, community organizations and a 21-year career in the business office at Brownwood Regional Hospital.
Brownwood life and community service
Hampton was born September 29, 1936, in San Angelo to Lehman L. and Irene Fry. She moved to Brownwood with her parents and two siblings in 1940 and graduated from Brownwood High School in 1956.
That same year, she married her high school sweetheart, James Clifford Hampton, on October 13 at Austin Avenue Church of Christ. The couple shared 55 years of marriage before his death in 2011.
A devoted member of Austin Avenue Church of Christ, Hampton faithfully served her church and church family throughout her life. Her community involvement also included TOPS, the Red Hat Club, the Garden Club and service as an ombudsman.
Family and memorial information
Hampton is survived by her sister, Etta Lou Ingram of Abilene; daughter Teresa Beal and her husband, Steven, of Early; and son Jimmy Hampton and his wife, DeLane, of Richland Hills.
Her grandchildren are Ashley Beal and Jonathan Beal of Early; Chantel Hampton and Stevi Hampton of Richardson; Lyndin Reader of Dallas; and Rain Hampton of Arlington. Her great-grandchildren include Hayden Welch, Hallie Thornberry, Harper Thornberry, Preston Beal and Madison Beal of Early; Eleyna Oliva, Lola Hampton and Kaleb Hampton of Richardson; Brynn Reader and Emitt Reader of Dallas; and Quincy Hampton of Arlington.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and her brother, Leondous, known as Lee, Fry of Kerrville.
The family has requested that memorials be made in Hampton’s memory to the Missions Fund of Austin Avenue Church of Christ, 1020 Austin Ave., Brownwood, Texas 76801. Condolences, memories and tributes may be offered to the Hampton family online at heartlandfuneralhome.net.