Grace Rita Hampton

Our Mother, Grace Rita Hampton was born on October 2, 1925 in Detroit, Michigan to the union of Moses Stanford Ryan Jr, of Augusta, Georgia and Willie Mae Hankerson (Ryan) of Dunbarton, South Carolina, both who preceded her in death. She was raised by her mother and step-father Fredrick Price along with her 2 sisters Barbara Marcus and Marian Hunter, both proceeded her in death.

Grace attended Detroit Public Schools. Grace always held a job beginning at the age of 12 years old, babysitting in and around her neighborhood. Her mother would help her secure these jobs by putting ads in the Detroit Free Press. Grace followed the advice of her mother and had her employers pay into her Social Security Account. Telling her, “President Franklin Delano Roosevelt set up a program so she would have money to enjoy in her twilight years”.

She graduated from Commerce High School in 1943. While at Commerce, Grace specialized in Business Education that focused on secretarial skills such as typing, penmanship, shorthand and bookkeeping. Her mother advised Grace to take the Female Finishing Classes offered by Commerce so she would be better prepared to work in an office environment, populated predominantly by men. Having that insight paid off throughout her career and lifetime.

After graduation, Grace secured a job working for the U.S. government doing secretarial work. Commerce had prepared her well. She excelled in shorthand with 80 words per minute and typing 120 words per minute. Grace’s ambition was to be the best secretary and travel. She worked for the U.S. Government. In 1945, she married her childhood sweetheart Hilliard Linzy Hampton in Detroit, Michigan. To that union 6 children were born, Rita L., Grace H., Janeice H., Hilliard L., Sharain A., and Bryan W.S. (deceased 2004).

Marriage, Children and Motherhood did not prevent Grace. She moved on and secured a secretarial job in 1950 with the UAW. In 1957, she began working at the UAW Local Union offices within Region 1A. She retired from the International UAW in 1988. Grace achieved her dreams by becoming an Executive Secretary assisting in organized labor and she traveled all over the U.S.A and eventually Europe.

Our mother’s accomplishment are many here are a just a few:
-was a delegate to four Democratic Party National Conventions from 1968-80
-an active supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment and attended the National Women’s Conference in 1977;
-recording secretary, and attended state party conventions for more than 30 years
-served on the Wayne County Public Library Board from 1968-90, including terms as Chairperson and Vice
Chairperson
-1980, became the first woman appointed as a board member of the Wayne County Road Commission;
-elected Chairperson of the Inter-County Highway Commission,
-served country regional highway coordination agency
-life member of the NAACP;
-served in the UAW Social Security Unit and Office of the President of the International from 1983 until
her retirement from UAW.

-She was baptized at Historic Second Baptist Church of Detroit since 1927 and remained an active member
-Retired from OPEIU, local 494 AFL-CIO, in 1988
-founding Member of the National CLUW,1974
-an avid golfer with a respectful handicapped, She was a member of the Inkster Putters and
-an excellent seamstress and she loved to do arts and crafts

Grace Rita Ryan Price Hampton leaves to morn 6 children, Rita L. Hampton, Grace H. Fouche, Janeice H. Hampton, Hilliard L. Hampton Jr (Marcella), Sharain A. Hampton and Bryan W.S. Hampton (preceded her in death in 2004). She has 18 Grandchildren, 30 Great Grandchildren and 6 Great Great-Grandchildren. Preceding her in death are her 2 brothers and 3 sisters raised in Los Angeles, California. Also surviving to grieve are her niece Judy Morris and Nephew Garnet Green from California, Cousin Lucille Culberson from Beaufort S. C, Nephew Selkou (Donald), her special nieces, Nancy Hunter, Robin Marcus, nephews Garnet Green and Michael Scott, Diane Troup, Judy Morris, cousin Lucille Culberson, and longtime friend Ms. Doris Horne.