MARY GEORGE HOPKINS
Mary George Hopkins, 89, widow of Rexford Lee Hopkins, was born on Sept. 15, 1931, in Bishopville, a daughter of the late Jimmie and Leler Scarborough George. She departed this life on Wednesday, May 26, 2021, at her residence.
After receiving her early education at Mayesville Institute in Mayesville, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Benedict College of Columbia and spent her early professional life as an English teacher in Milledgeville, Georgia. She also received her Master of Library Science from Atlanta University, Atlanta, and worked as a librarian with Virginia State College and later as a school librarian at Franklin County Middle School in Rocky Mount, Virginia.
She commenced her Christian walk at St. Mark Baptist Church in the Manville section of Lee County, where she learned, among other things, "to whom much is given, much is required." During her time in Rocky Mount, she was active with Holy Trinity Baptist Church, until she relocated to South Carolina.
To cherish her memory are three brothers, Arthur Lee (Doretha) George of Cheraw, Henry Kershaw George Sr. of Sumter and U. Eugene (Carolyn) George of Columbia; two sisters, Dr. Ruth George Kennedy of Durham, North Carolina, and Ivorie George Lowe of Sumter; she was loved by her daughters, Yetive W. Larke of Augusta, Georgia, and Dr. Zona W. (Joseph) Jefferson of Sumter; her four grandchildren, Allyson Larke (Michael) Morris of Suwanee, Georgia, Adrienne Larke (Seith) Singletary of Charlotte, North Carolina, Joseph Anthony (Shivonya) Jefferson of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, and Laura Dione Jefferson of Sumter; her great-grandchildren, Larry Jackson, Yolanda Denise Jefferson, Jasmine Ayana Jefferson, Kennedy Elise Morris and Braxton Alexander Morris; and two sisters-in-law, Vesper Hopkins Edwards and Marjorie Hopkins Price. She also leaves a host of nieces and nephews; and five special friends who made a significant difference in her life, Samantha Boyd Bracey, Tiffany Brunson Douglas, Patricia Clark, Marian Tyree and Mae Epps.
She was preceded in death by her older brother, James George II; and her sisters, Doris Woods Baskett and Rosella G. Toney.
Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday at St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church, 510 Manville-Wisacky Road, Bishopville, SC 29010. Interment will be held at Franklin Memorial Park in Rocky Mount.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 7 p.m. today at Job's Mortuary Inc., 312 S. Main St., Sumter, SC 29150.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made to the Leler Scarborough George Scholarship at Morris College, Sumter; The Benedict Alumni Association, Benedict College, Columbia; or to Habitat for Humanity in Rocky Mount.
Job's Mortuary Inc., 312 S. Main St., Sumter, is in charge of arrangements.
Online memorials may be sent to the family at jobsmortuary@sc.rr.com or visit us on the web at www.jobsmortuary.net.