Compton was born June 2, 1954, in Atlanta. He received his education in the Henry County and Atlanta Public School systems and began working at Georgia Tech in 1975. He met his wife, Dorothy, working in Dining Services. They married in 1997. 

Compton worked at Georgia Tech for 42 years. He loved spending time with his family, cooking, fishing, playing cards, listening to music, and dancing. He was known for his homemade chicken noodle soup served on campus, and his famous greeting, “What it is.”

 Compton is survived by his wife Dorothy Compton, mother Mattie Compton, daughter Teresa Adams, stepsons Corey Coleman and Derod Wilson, two brothers, three sisters, 10 grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, one sister-in-law, three brothers-in-law, and a host of nieces and nephews.