Denise Laverne Hempstead was born to Joe and Olivia Hempstead at Womack Army Hospital, Ft. Bragg, NC on September 18, 1959. Her first four years were spent growing up in Japan on a U S Army base.
Thereafter, she spent her childhood and early adult years in Fayetteville, NC. After attending Fayetteville public schools, she graduated in 1981 from Fayetteville State University with a degree in Biology. Denise moved to Forest City upon graduation and immediately began teaching at Rutherfordton Central in the Science department.
Over time, she began to take on additional duties at the original Central and the “new” school as an NCAE representative, school bus driver, sports announcer and cheerleading coach. It was the latter duty in which she earned her nickname “Chip”. She retired from 34 years as an educator after teaching countless generations of teenagers, often teaching the children of some of her former students.
And in a few instances, she even taught some of her colleagues and administrators when they were teenagers. Denise had a love of athletics and was a big fan of her beloved Carolina Panthers and any team that was playing Carolina. She loved golf and took part in numerous charity tournaments.
Her biggest tournament was her highly anticipated annual one-on-one with her brother Joseph on Thanksgiving mornings at Fort Bragg. Denise had a love for her church, St. Francis Episcopal Church, and also her local Rotary Club. Denise had been a member of St. Francis for 25 years.
She served an Acolyte, greeter, at Eucharistic minister, lay Eucharistic visitor, Lector and usher. She served on two discernment committees and on the Vestry of St. Francis, serving as Junior Warden during her term on the Vestry. Denise loved working with children and was always seen ministering to children in the Nursery and in Sunday School classes.
She was a graduate of Education for Ministry, a member of Daughters of the King and a member of the Welcome Table Team. She was the expert in using the dishwasher and was always present serving with joyfulness as she experienced the fellowship of her church family. Denise left this earth on Tuesday, October 23, 2018.
She is survived by her mother, Olivia Hempstead of Fayetteville NC; three brothers, Dennis (Charlotte) of Lumberton; Joseph of Charlotte; and Keith (Jeannine) of Durham; an uncle, Charles (Juanita) of Frisco, TX; numerous cousins, along with a host of beloved nephews, a niece, grand nephews and grand nieces whom she all personally gave nicknames. Lastly, Denise had a deep love of animals and although she had no children, she affectionately raised several dogs in her home; some purebred bust most Rutherford breeds (whatever type dog there is in Rutherford County, it was bound to share its DNA). Her last surviving “child”, Max, is in the care of her close friends, Sandra Jones.
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