Mary Ellen Hopper

Mary Ellen Davis Hopper died peacefully in her sleep on Tuesday, March 6, 2017, in Monroe, NC at the age of 85 yrs. She was the wife of Dr. C.G. (Graham) Hopper, Jr. of Monroe, NC who preceded her in death on July 5, 2013.

A funeral service will be held at First Baptist Church of Monroe on Saturday, March 11, at 11:00am with Reverend Dr. Chris Dawson officiating. Burial services will be held at 4:00pm at Oakland Cemetery in Gaffney, SC on the same day. The family will be accepting visitors at First Baptist Church of Monroe from 9:30-11:00am on Saturday, March 11.

Mrs. Hopper was born in Raleigh, NC on June 4, 1931, the daughter of Reverend Dr. E. Gibson Davis and Pearl Irene Harrison. A graduate of Memphis High School, Memphis, TN, she received a BA in Education from Limestone College in Gaffney, SC. Mary Ellen was employed briefly by Limestone College as Alumni Secretary and Limestone College recruiter before she and Graham were married on June 25, 1954 in the First Baptist Church of Gaffney, SC. She had been a member of the First Baptist Church of Monroe since 1961 where she taught Sunday school for many years and served faithfully as a deacon. She worked as a medical office administrator for many years in Monroe. Her community outreach ministry included Meals on Wheels, Monroe, where she served for several years. She was a committed, passionate Limestone College Alumnus her entire life. Along with her husband, who served on the Board of Trustees, she and Dr. Hopper gave willingly of her time, talents and gifts to advance the cause of education in Upstate SC through the support of Limestone College.

Mary Ellen was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Dr. Clyde Graham Hopper, Jr., older brother James Evan Davis of Augusta, GA and older sister Martha Davis Cox of Orlando, FL. She is survived by her four children, Clyde Gibson Hopper and wife Debbie Powell Hopper of Mt. Pleasant, SC, Nathan Graham Hopper and wife Denise Johnson Hopper of Monroe, NC, Melanie Hopper of Matthews, NC, and Clark Evan Hopper of Winston-Salem, NC. There are 5 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

The family has asked that memorials be sent to First Baptist Church, 109 Morrow Avenue, Monroe, NC, 28112 or Limestone College, 1115 College Drive, Gaffney, SC, 29340.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at mcewenmonroechapel.com