Grace Ann Dampier

Grace Ann Dampier, 79, brought love into our world—and almost always brought the fun to go with it! Having made Dothan her home for nearly 20 years, she passed into the embrace of our Lord and Savior in the early morning hours of Monday, October 17, 2022, surrounded by family and friends at home. Her death brings peace to her struggle against Parkinson’s Disease.

Grace was born January 19, 1943, in New Berlin, NY, to Herbert Willis and Hannah Nearing Peck. She was the second of five children. After her family moved from the farm to the City, the precocious teenager graduated from Bayside High School at age 16 and attended Harding University—where she met and subsequently married Stephen Philip Dampier on September 10, 1960. Shortly after, they began a family that would grow to five children. Once her children were all in school, Grace went back to school herself, finishing her coursework at the University of West Florida—where she earned a BA in special education (summa cum laude) and an MA with Honors in clinical teaching.

Almost always the smartest person in any room, she put her talents and her wit to work in the classroom—teaching in the public schools in Marianna, FL; in the Sunday school classroom; in the Houston County Jail, where she taught for 12 years; leading teaching workshops around the country; and traveling internationally with Philip to bring the Word to five continents. In her retirement, she continued her unpaid ministry that began when Philip served as a preacher in the Church of Christ throughout the Midwest and Florida; she turned her attention especially to prison ministry and Community Bible Study—both of which blessed her with friendships that will transcend her death.

Grace enjoyed a wide variety of interests—including crafts, reading and book clubs, aquacise, being outdoors, cooking, traveling, and, most of all, spending time with family.

She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Stephen Philip Dampier of Dothan, AL; children Karis (& Chris)Knight of Tallahassee, FL, Janet (& Doug) Mendenhall of Abilene, TX, Stephen (& Deanie) Dampier of San Antonio, TX, Jonathan (& Cheryl) Dampier of Austin, TX, and Jill (& James) Sweiderk of Nokomis, FL; three granddaughters and thirteen grandsons; three great- granddaughters and five great-grandsons; sister Mary (& Pete) Weiskopf of Hollywood, MD; ten nephews and eleven nieces; and one heartbroken poodle.

She was preceded in death by her father and mother; two brothers, Walter Peck and John Peck; and one sister, Elizabeth Williams.

Visitation will be held Monday, October 24, from 5-7 pm at Sunset Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 11 am on Tuesday, October, 25, at Westgate Church of Christ, with Minister Chris Jones officiating. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Park cemetery.

In Grace’s memory, donations can be made to Westgate Church of Christ with designations to the Library Fund or Swedru International Bible College.

Robert and Toni Byrd · Sunset Memorial Park

1700 Barrington Rd, Midland City AL · (334) 983-6604