On Saturday morning, December 1, 2018, Sylvia Rosalie Hopewell Johnson joined the ancestral cloud of witnesses. She was born on June 3, 1954, as the middle child of seven to Aminah Ahmed Hopewell and Sylvester Bernard Hopewell, Sr.
“Sweetie” as her father would lovingly refer to her, grew up on Ludlow Street in West Philadelphia, PA. As a child, Sylvia was active in neighborhood clubs and school organizations, and she had many neighbor friends. She and her best friend Sheila (Candy) Edgerton, established the Superior Sisters of Soul, a club for neighborhood girls. Arts & crafts, dancing, and baking were some of her passions, and she succeeded in everything she attempted.
Sylvia graduated in 1971, from the Philadelphia High School for Girls. Not long after high school, with the prodding of her mother, she attended Pierce Jr. College in Philly. However, the desire for a family distracted her from schooling, as she married young and gave birth two sons, Talvin and Tarrin. Following the end of her marriage, she kept busy caring for her sons, and a host of other family children in need of support.
While working with her sister Betty as coordinators for the Northeastern Ski Tours in the early 1990’s, CJ the DJ introduced her to his brother Michael Johnson. Sylvia and Mike began a long distance relationship, that grew into a loving relationship. They decided to blend their families, so Mike moved Sylvia and her sons to Houston, Texas, where they were married on September 5, 1995.
Sylvia loved her church, where she sang in the choir, strutted her stuff in the church fashion show and facilitated an exercise class for church members. The people who knew Sylvia would refer to her as Syl, and she spread love and joy to everyone with whom she interacted. Sylvia, with her positive attitude, was always willing to lend a helping hand, and she was always the first to offer assistance, insuring that things were done properly and in order.
Remembering the motivation of her mother, Sylvia completed her college education by earning a Bachelor of Science Degree, with honors, from the University of Phoenix in 2007. Sylvia and Mike both obtained their life insurance licenses and joined Primerica, helping many other families understand and obtain life insurance. Out of a desire to do more for others, Sylvia continued her investment training, and earned her securities license, to be able to teach people how to invest their savings wisely.
Sylvia’s crowning achievement was her family life. Sylvia, along with her two sisters and cousin Hatti, coordinated their Hopewell-Ahmed Bi-Annual Family Reunions. She adored Mike, her husband of 23 years. With motherly love, she continuously guided her two sons Talvin Wrighton and Tarrin Wrighton from childhood, through adolescence, and into adulthood. She also provided loving care for her stepchildren Chanelle Scott and Marques Johnson. She loved and respected her daughters-in-law, Shelley and Traci. She also enjoyed every moment she had with her grandchildren Talvin (TJ) Wrighton, Jr. and Landon Scott Pope.
Sylvia was preceded in death by her older sister Christine Morgan. Sylvia leaves to cherish her memory, her sisters Irene Stallings (Carl) of Roslyn, PA and Elizabeth Watson (James) of Beltsville, MD; brothers Irvin Hopewell (Cheryl) of Havertown, PA, Bernard Hopewell of Glenside, PA and Sylvester Hopewell, Jr. (Mary) of Atlanta, Georgia; as well as a number of nieces, nephews, and a host of friends.
In Sylvia Rosalie Hopewell Johnson we have found a yardstick of what it means to be absolutely phenomenal, from which so many will now measure their lives. For this we give thanks for a life well lived.
A Memorial Service and Repast will be held at Deliverance Evangelistic Church, 2001 West Lehigh Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19132 on Friday, December 21, 2018 at 12:00 pm. Her guest book will be available for guest to sign at www.forestparkwestheimerfh.com
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