Rose Marie (Hampton) Graves

It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we say goodbye to our beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, Rose Marie Hampton Graves. Rose, 84, passed away suddenly on Tuesday, March 28, 2023 at UNC Lenoir Health Care in Kinston. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 1, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. at Calvary Baptist Church. The family will receive friends and family beginning at 2:00 p.m. before the service.

Rose was born in Princess Anne County, VA on August 24, 1938 to Forrest Gilbert Hampton and Christine Cavanaugh Hampton. Rose was a homemaker and worked for Social Security for 20 years before retiring in 1998. Rose spent many happy moments involved with her family, church, and friends, playing piano, singing, and helping others with their yearly personal accounting. Even after retiring from Social Security, these activities kept Rose socially active and sharp. She was a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Kinston.

Rose is preceded in death by her husband, Will Graves; father, Forrest Hampton; mother, Christine Hampton, and brother, Forrest Hampton, Jr. She is survived by her daughters, Elaine Mason Davis and husband, Allen Mooring, of Kinston, Linda Mason Walker and husband, Kevin, of Tarpon Springs, FL, Brenda Mason Huffman and husband, Tim, of Richlands, Rose Ellen Alston and husband, George, of Kinston, and Terry Graves Liles and husband, Dennis, of Snow Hill; sons, Thomas “Sam” Mason and wife, Lori, of Midlothian, VA, Donald Ray Melton, Jr. and wife, Penny, of Bethel, and Sonny Graves of Snow Hill; grandchildren, Candi Potter, Brandon Stevens, Tara Stacey, Devin Walker, Kristen Wright, Justin Davis, Starlyn Imperiale, Shea Mason, Dylan Melton, Isaiah Melton, Jeremiah Melton, Marcus Alston, George Alston, Jr., and Nicholas Alston; great-grandchildren, Evan and Bryce Potter, Layden, Wesley, and Kylan Walker, Auden and Camden Imperiale, Ellason Stacey, and Ava, Jiraiya, Jeremiah, and Jozliah Alston.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Mission Program at Calvary Baptist Church, 3432 Dobbs Farm Road, Kinston, NC 28504. To attend the memorial service virtually, please check Rose’s Facebook page for details.