Mary Evelyn Collins Hopwood's Obituary
Mrs. Mary Evelyn Collins Hopwood of Smyrna, GA, died after a loving and fulfilling life with her faith and her family, on Thursday, February 19, 2009.
Visitation will be Monday, February 23, 4:00-7:00 PM, followed by the Rosary at Davis-Struempf Funeral Home. There will be a Mass of Resurrection for Mary on Tuesday, February 24, 2009 at 1:00 PM, at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Smyrna. Rev. James Kuczynski, M.S. will be the celebrant.
Mary was born on October 19, 1922, in Lawrenceburg, TN to Roy Lee and Lillian Fay Collins. She married William Henry Hopwood, “Hop” in 1940. Following retirement, Mary and Hop moved to Florida for a few years, but eventually moved to Smyrna to be closer to her family, especially their grandchildren. Mary was predeceased by her husband, William, her brother James Wade Collins of Lawrenceburg and her sister Jennie Paisley Curtis of Tuscumbia, AL. Her elder and surviving brother, Roy Lee Collins, Jr. and his wife Cordelia live in Forsyth, GA.
Also surviving are her children and their spouses: Francis (Frank) and Sandra Hopwood of Vienna, VA, Marilyn and Al Weber of Mableton, GA, William, Jr. (Bill) and Karen Hopwood of Knoxville, TN, and Thomas (Tom) Hopwood of Smyrna, GA. Her nine grandchildren and three great grandchildren have fond memories of Grandma/ Great Grandma and will miss their visits with her. Several nephews and nieces in Tennessee and Alabama also have fond memories of Aunt “Feetie.”
Mary was a long time member of St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Smyrna and an active volunteer in various ministries during her early years at St. Thomas. After her husband’s death, Mary returned to work as a part time employee at the church. She also worked for the Cobb County Board of Elections, serving as a Poll Manager for a number of years.
Raised in a Southern Democratic family, Mary cherished this country’s voting privilege, never missing the opportunity to cast her ballot in local, state and national elections. The past November she again exercised her voting right, casting an absentee ballot from her bed where she spent the last six months of her life. Another highlight of Mary’s later years were her high school reunions which began in 1990 with the 50th anniversary of her graduation. Later she also attended the OK Elementary School reunions. She looked forward to these two reunions each year.
Mary’s cremains will be interred beside her late husband, William at Mimosa Cemetery in Lawrenceburg, TN, at a later date.
What’s your fondest memory of Mary Evelyn Collins?
What’s a lesson you learned from Mary Evelyn Collins?
Share a story where Mary Evelyn Collins' kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Mary Evelyn Collins you’ll never forget.
How did Mary Evelyn Collins make you smile?