Deborah Hopkins

Deborah Hopkins, daughter of the late Clory B. Pritchett and late Rufus Mabery was born on May 8, 1955 in Baltimore, Maryland. She was educated in the Baltimore City Public School system, graduating from Paul Lawrence Dunbar Sr. High School. She held various jobs in the food service and in the dietary industry, which included twelve years with the Baltimore City Department of Corrections as a Cook and Caterer. Deborah, (also affectionately known as "Debbie"), was introduced to Christ, at an early age, by her mother. She was baptized in Jesus' name and received the gift of the Holy Ghost at the Highway Christian Church, under the leadership of District Elder Wesley Thomas, Sr. She dedicated her life to serving God from this day forward. After the passing of Elder Thomas, Debbie then served faithfully under Highway's next pastor, the late Saffragan Bishop Charles R. Brown. Under Bishop Brown's pastorate Debbie continued in being steadfast and unmovable no matter what challenges in life she encountered along the way. It was through her faith in Jesus Christ that she raised her children in the Apostolic Doctrine. Deborah was married to her partner in life and ministry, Pastor Fred Hopkins, Jr. for 28 years. Deborah served in many capacities throughout her membership at Highway. Wherever there was a need, she sacrificed her time and talent to advance the kingdom of God. She was She was a Minister, Willing Worker, Young Adult Choir member, President of the Missionary Auxiliary, President of the Victory Ensemble, Prayer Band Member, & Kitchen staff. Deborah was blessed with the gift of song, the gift of cooking, and the gift of creativity and entrepreneurship. She loved to sing God's praises and loved to encourage others to lift up their voices in praise to our God. If you were a member of the Victory Ensemble, you could expect to be in rehearsal all night long until the song being taught came out to President Deborah's satisfaction. Also, whenever Bishop Brown needed a choir for church engagements, The Victory Ensemble was usually his first choice of choirs to take with him. This charge ignited Debbie to make sure the choir sang their best when out with the Pastor. Therefore choir rehearsals could be called at a moment's notice, and she expected every choir member to show up or you better have a good reason for not coming the next time she saw you. She also became well known at other church congregations for her strong voice and love of singing for the Lord and was often invited out to do solo selections as well. In addition to, "I Won't Complain", another song that she loved to sing was "All of my help comes from the Lord". She sung it with such conviction that when she got to the lines "whenever I need HIM, He's right by my side" you knew that she was living what she sang. She sought the Lord in good times and bad. She kept her word and when she sang another favorite "I made a vow to the Lord" she expressed how important it was for her to honor God. She was a person of integrity and if she made you a promise, she would keep it. As a missionary, she served others in need, putting their needs above her own. Deborah was always shopping for a bargain and she would be sure to look out for others when she did. If she saw something that she thought someone could use, she would pick up and just hold onto it- for no matter how long, for the chance to bless someone. In addition, Debbie was a maker and seller of ladies church hats. At P.A. W. conferences and church councils, Debbie was found fulfilling orders for many First Ladies, as well as for various members of other churches. Also, in her entrepreneurship, Debbie loved to put on a good church dinner or Fish Fry. Because she was so well known and loved in the many neighborhoods and communities of East Baltimore she had no problem selling dinners or the World's Finest Chocolates while helping to raise money for church auxiliaries. On hot summer nights you could always find good conversation with Debbie while outside the front of her home while also purchasing some of her snowballs or flavorful freeze cups. When the Lord called her husband, Pastor Fred Hopkins, to establish Jesus New Shiloh #2, Deborah did not skip a beat. As First Lady, she faithfully and dutifully worked beside him with continued zeal for the Lord. Deborah preached regularly, organized conferences and a conducted a daily prayer line. Deborah was always available to encourage, support and pray for others. Deborah was a God fearing, faithful determined Matriarch and servant of God who was determined to spread the Good News of Christ Jesus, our Savior without reservation. She was especially committed to helping see all her family get "saved." Her last sermon, that she gave in church (and again on her hospital bed), was "Don't let your history affect your victory". Family, friends, and acquaintances who knew her, were forever changed after encountering her because of the victory through Jesus Christ that she expressed throughout her life here on earth. She will forever be remembered as a great example of what it means to persevere for the Lord. She will be missed and remembered with much love and respect. She was preceded in death by her son, Ronnie Ricks; daughter, Valor Ricks; granddaughter, Mulan Myles; siblings, Herbert Pritchett, Chester Pritchett, Rosalyn Pritchett, Rebecca Eaddy, Viada Cousins, Colbert Penn, and Rufus "Boochie" Mabery. She leaves to cherish her memory: a devoted husband, Fred Hopkins, Jr.; loving children: Vanessa "Lovie" Harper, Dennis Carver (Camille), Avery Hopkins, Charles Hopkins, Freda Arrington (Calvin), Fred Hopkins III, Dante Hopkins, Keyia Corey, Robert "Cups" Ricks, Jr., and Jerry Ricks; seventeen grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; fifteen brothers and sisters, Clory Pritchett, Romaine Penn, Ellena Pritchett, Allison Pritchett, Warren Penn (Denise), Hugh Brown (Jackie), Ralph Pritchett, Andre Collins, Hazel Swaby, Doris Montgomery, Sherry Darden, Torre Darden, Terrance Mabery, Antionette Nwankwo, Jeremy Mabery; a faithful girlfriend, Evangelist Mary Johns, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Tributes

Deborah Hopkins

May 8, 1955 - April 9, 2019