Kathleen R. Hopkins

Born on March 13, 1944, in Philipsburg, Pennsylvania, to John R. and Susannah H. Ricards, Kathy’s remarkable life began on the East Coast and unfolded across the country and around the world, including formative years spent in England. Her life-long journey of learning and service became the hallmark of everything she would pursue.

Kathy shared 61 adventurous and joy-filled years with her devoted husband, Ralph W. Hopkins, Jr. Although the U.S. Navy took them across American and oversees to Thailand and England, together they raised a family grounded in faith, love, perseverance, and purpose: daughters Susannah Grace Hopkins Bagwell (Marc) and Kristin Nora Hopkins Barbour (Richard); and grandchildren Keith Thomas Cox, Cole Thomas Dailey and Elise Claire Barbour. She is also lovingly remembered by her brother Charlie Ricards (Lynn), and her sisters in-laws Nancy Haines, and Katy Ricards as well as many nieces and nephews.

Kathy’s Christian faith was her compass and joy. Baptized in the Episcopal Church, she faithfully served in churches where she and Ralph were stationed in the miliary, including as a camp leader for Christian Warrior Camp in England, and most recently at Church of the Messiah. Her life was an offering of service, conviction, and love.

Kathy’s professional life was defined by a passion for opening doors of possibility for students with learning differences. Her dedication to education spanned decades and continents. She earned a B.S.Ed. from the University of Delaware (1965), an M.A.Ed. from Regent University (1988), an Ed.S. in Administration/Special Education from The College of William & Mary (1994), and an Ed.D. from The College of William & Mary (1996).

Kathy began her career at the National Institute for Learning Development (NILD) in the mid-1980’s as an NILD Educational Therapist at Norfolk Christian Schools. Kathy ultimately served as NILD Executive Director for over two decades from 1991-2011 shaping the organization’s direction with humility, strength, and an unwavering belief in the God-given potential of every learner. A respected national and international speaker and the author of three books, she changed the way countless educators understood learning, resilience, hope, and how to help children learn how to learn.

Those who knew Kathy will forever remember her remarkable ability to see both who you were and who you could become. She spoke the truth with love, mentoring generations of educators and leaders. If you ever heard her speak—at a conference or at a school—you walked away renewed, inspired, and emboldened. When Kathy looked at you, her eyes revealed her deep conviction that you could achieve more than you ever thought possible.

Her personal joys were many: her faith and family, reading, music, theater, gardening, family reunions, and traveling with those she loved. She relished hearing and telling stories and used humor to navigate life’s challenges. Kathy lived with courage, resilience, discipline, and deep faith. She was a servant of God, hopeful, optimistic, family-centered, patriotic, and unfailingly tenacious.

Kathy is survived by her husband Ralph; her daughters Sue Grace and Kristin; and her grandchildren Keith Cox, Cole Dailey, and Elise Barbour. She was predeceased by her parents, her in-laws Ralph and Anna Hopkins and Stephen Hopkins, and two of her brothers, John “Jackie” Ricards and Andrew Ricards.

A Committal Ceremony will be held on December 12, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at John G. Horton Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Suffolk, Virginia. A Celebration of Life will follow on December 13, 2025, at 1:00 p.m., at 816 Kempsville Road, Chesapeake, VA 23320. If you are unable to attend Kathy’s Celebration of Life in person, you are warmly welcome to join us online using this link: https://www.churchofthemessiah.org/hopkins

Kathy’s family expresses their heartfelt gratitude to her life-long friends Jack and Cherral Mason, The Jenson Family, Mavis and Tony Shortman, and Anne Olivant for their faithful love and prayers across the years; and to the NILD family for their steadfast support, encouragement, and prayers for Kathy and her family.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the NILD Bridget Hughes Life-Long Learner Scholarship (give.classy.org/lifelonglearnerscholarship) continuing Kathy’s legacy of equipping educators to transform the learning and thinking of students with learning differences around the world.

Matthew 25:21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’