Michael Jeffery Hopkins

Mike wore many hats. He had such a powerful impact in the community touching the lives of youth as a band director and as a softball coach. He was a musician, softball umpire and a mentor and encourager to so many. His children all played sports, played in the band, his sons became sports officials. He loved and cared for his family so much. We all went to Dad with our questions and he always was willing to listen, be there and offer loving advice.

Mike was a band director at Apex High School for many years. It was important to him to support the community by taking the band to march in parades, such as the Friendship Christmas Parade, the Veterans Day Parade and participate in Cary Band Day. As a Class IA band, Apex HS won the Grand Champion Award, this was quite a feat. Prior to retirement he was the band director at East Cary YR Middle School. Here, through the support of his principal he founded Kaptain Dixie’s Spud and Suds Steel Drum Band. He made sure they also performed in the community such as playing at the Cary Senior Center for Senior Citizen Month. A highlight was performing at Disney World. Mike, as a musician performed with the Fife and Drum Corps at Epcot/Disney World.

Mike was a member of Salem Baptist Church; here he played with the church’s orchestra, continuing to play even with his tanks of oxygen. He also enjoyed playing with the handbell choir.

Mike was a softball coach at AHS, slow-pitch and then changing to fast-pitch. He encouraged team building by having his players pick up rocks on the current softball field when it was built. More than once he had a team in the State Championships. After retirement he became the first softball coach at Apex Friendship High School. Mike mentored several of his players to become umpires.

Mike began his career as a softball umpire in 1976. He was inducted into the NC ASA Hall of Honors in 2015. Mike umpired 16 ASA National Championship Games and was a member of the National Indicator Fraternity. He not only umpired numerous games but was also the UIC for a host of tournaments. Mike promoted softball and umpiring. He was the East Zone Director for PONY Softball; in 2008 he received the Wall of Fame Award.

Mike was born in Akron, OH, to the late Joseph and June Frase Hopkins. Mike is survived by his devoted wife, Susan of 43 years; their children Matthew; Shannon Mastrototaro and husband Mike of Rural Hall, NC; Jared and wife Sydney of Salem, OR; and Mike’s sons Mark of Greenville, SC; Daniel and wife Shannon of Greenville, SC. Mike especially cared for and would do fun things (tee-shirts, play his ukulele) for his grandchildren Addison, Lucas, Beau, Ethan, Michael and Isaac.

Memorials may be made to Salem Baptist Church Music Ministry, Salem Baptist Church Youth Ministry, or Mountain View Baptist Church Cemetery Fund (c/o Dean Slate 1944 Mountain View Rd. King, NC 27021).

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