Priscilla Rheta Hampton

Priscilla Rheta (Toney) Hampton, 88, of Worcester, passed away on Saturday, March 9, 2024, at Saint Vincent Hospital.  

Rheta is survived by three sons, Blake E. Hampton and his wife Linda of Chandler, AZ, William K. Hampton and his wife Holly of Green Bay, WI, and Sheldon L. Hampton and his wife, Rev. Dr. Gizel Hampton of Worcester; two brothers, Jack T. Toney and Donald Toney, both of Worcester; two sisters, Elizabeth A. White of Worcester and Elsie L. Price of Los Angeles; nineteen grandchildren; many great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren; many nieces, nephews and cousins.  Sadly, she was predeceased by two of her children, Debra L. Hampton in 1985 and Pinkney H. Hampton, Jr. in 2017.  She was also predeceased by her former husband and father of her children, Pinckney Hampton, Sr., and by three siblings, William “Mickey” Toney, Alfred Toney, and Pearl Williams.  She was born in Worcester, daughter of the late, William and Elsie (Moffit) Toney.

Rheta grew up in Worcester and graduated from Girl’s Trade High School and lived here for many years raising her family.  In the 1980’s she moved to Los Angeles where she operated a BINGO Parlor for several years, before moving to Henderson, Nevada, settling back in Worcester in 2019.  Never being one to be idle, she maintained several jobs at any given time, from working as an office administrator for the Worcester Public Schools, to managing American Discount department store, to working as an aide at nursing homes.

She was proud of her family and her Nipmuc Heritage.  She enjoyed bowling, BINGO, and was a member of the former Nokomis Temple at the Worcester Lodge of Elk’s IPBOEW.

Calling Hours will be on Thursday, March 14, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., with a Funeral Service at 11 a.m., in the MERCADANTE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 370 Plantation Street, Worcester, Rev. Dr. Gizel Hampton, presiding.  Interment will follow at Hope Cemetery, Worcester.  The Funeral will be "live streamed" beginning at 10:55 a.m., go to "live services" on the funeral home website.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to Summit Elder Care, checks to Fallon Health with Summit Elder Care Donation in memo, mailing address 288 Grove St., Worcester MA 01605.