Ms. Mary Lou Perry Hopkins

September 18, 1946 - May 2, 2022

The Journey Begins… Mother Mary Lou Perry Hopkins was born on September 18, 1946, to the late Lucious and Nora Nesbitt Perry in Clarendon County, South Carolina. Mary attended the public schools of Sumter County, South Carolina and was a graduate of Manchester High School in Pinewood, South Carolina, in the Class of 1965. She completed additional training at Sumter Area Technical College, Sumter, South Carolina. After graduating, Mother Mary moved from Pinewood to Brooklyn, New York and married the love of her life, the late Joe Louis Hopkins, Sr. Mother Mary gave her life to the Lord in her early years and was a faithful life-long member of St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church in Pinewood, South Carolina. She served faithfully as the Church Superintendent and taught Church School until retiring. Mary loved people and no person was a stranger; she talked to everyone. In her leisure time, she enjoyed doing upholstery and ceramics. And she loved her dog, "Riley“ Mother Mary was initially employed at Jerry’s Truck Stop in Manning, South Carolina and at Clarendon Retirement Home as a Nursing Assistant for over twenty-five years until her retirement. “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” God saw the road was getting rough, the hills were hard to climb and the pain was too much to bear. He gently closed her weary eyes and whispered…”Peace Be Thine.” On Monday, May 2, 2022, it was then Mother Mary Lou Perry Hopkins exchanged her earthly home for her heavenly home. In addition to her parents and husband, Mary was preceded in death by six siblings: Susie Mae Nelson, Robert Lee Perry, Lucious Perry, Gladys P. Goodine, Vernice P. Brunson and Rovena P. Stukes; five brothers in law, Hubert Stukes, Sammie Ray, Lloyd Goodine, Jr., Robert C. Brunson and Heyward Brunson. . The Journey Ends… Mother Mary leaves to cherish her precious memories, three children: one daughter, Mirinda Lorraine Anderson of Columbia, South Carolina; two sons, Joe Louis Hopkins, Jr. of Melbourne, Florida and Leonard Dynell (Jamie) Hopkins, Sr. of Carrollton, Virginia; eight grandchildren: Joe Louis Hopkins, III, Tarik DeAndre (Madison) Hopkins and Brianna Michal Hopkins of Bear, Delaware, Leonard Dynell Hopkins, Jr., Keylen Mar-key Hopkins and Anaya Lashay Hopkins of Carrollton, Virginia, Matthew Joseph Tull and David Rickey Anderson of Columbia, South Carolina; two sisters, Shirley Perry Brunson of Sumter, South Carolina and Mattie Perry Ray of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; a host of sisters in law brothers in law nieces, nephews and cousins.