Dorothy Hopkins Winder

Dorothy Elizabeth Hopkins Winder, youngest daughter of the late William and Katherine Veney Hopkins, was born in Baltimore, Maryland on March 26, 1960and was called home at her home after a lengthy battle with cancer on Sunday morning , June 5, 2011 with her sister holding her hand. Dorothy (or Dottie as she was known by friends and family) , was a tenacious, God-fearing woman who could often be heard saying”God 's got me” and spent most of her adult life professing her love for God and letting everyone she came in contact with know she was saved . Although she had no formal ministerial training, she always was preaching to anyone who would listen (and many of those would not) about God sending His son Jesus Christ to die for all of us. She was fearless when it came to life and professing her love for God. A faithful teacher, kids were passion. She was even known to give surprise visits to students on weekends for lessons or whip out her cell phone in class and call parents of students who needed it . Dottie fiercely believed in education of children and did everything in her power to make sure children received quality education. She disregarded he own health issues to cater to others in need, especially children. She believed in rewarding children when they deserved it and could often be seen carrying candy and other incentives to school which she paid for out of her own pocket. She never forgot about her students and kept up with many of them even after she stopped teaching. Dottie had a very engaging personality so she would initiate a conversation with anyone; her two passionate topics of conversation were: God first, and education next. She would strike upon a preaching session anywhere at anytime. Once when she was taken by her close friend to a healing session, she started praying for and laying hands on the persons at the session meant to pray for her! One could often hear her tell stories about her students no matter where she was: at church at family gatherings, even at the Cancer Center of GBMC. She always thought about her children and her passions; God and Education. Her faith was unparalled since being diagnosed with cancer in 2003. her unwavering faith in God made her a miracle to everyone she came in contact with at every cancer and medical facility in which she was treated. She fought this illness with that faithful or so long, those who knew her well thought she had a”hotlineto God “ and many believed she might keep beating this illness for some time to come. Doctors gave up on her in December of 2007, because of this illness, but she kept praying and believing in God and stayed with us until 2011. With each birthday and triump after that time, Dottie became an example for faith in God that no one could match . While she was a faithful beliver, she was always a faithful member of her church and was a tithing member of God's Unlimited Power International Ministries under the leadership of Pastor Sharon Allen. As always, she made the children a focus after God and often brought incentive for the kids in the church. She became a member of this ministry in October of 2008, almost a year after doctoer had said she would not make it through the end of 2007! Even before her affiliation with God's Unlimited Power, Dottie was alwasys affiliated with a church ministry including Pentecostal Church of Deliverance, New Bethlehem Freewill Baptist and Mt. Olive Free Will Baptist Church. Catering to order in need was evident. For example, even though she was fighting cancer, she took in her sister's godmother, Dorothy Truzerls, and cared for her until her death in 2005. Dottie also knew how to enjoy life as well and loved playing card games, spending time with relatives, and loved eating crabs. She loved to complete puzzle games to stimulate her mind as her illness progressed. Dottie showed her passion for children through her love of her godchildren Jerry, Matthew, Daniel, Joshua and Brandon and belivers in lavishing them with gifts but also let them know they had to earn those gifts and were not just entitled to them. She was known to enjoy a good home cooked meal and timed her visits to her best friend or her sister's house based on whether or not they cooked. She was fiercely independent and was known to drive herself around until she could no longer manage it. Dottie only stopped driving when the doctor mandated it and her sistter took her car keys. Dottie graduated from Paul Laurence Dunbar High School in 1978 as class Valedictorian from the health Careers Programs but switched her focus to education in college and graduated from Goucher College in 1982. Her teaching 5career included assignments at Calverton and Hamilton Middle School, Fredick Douglass High School and Fairmont/ Harford Heights Alternative School. Most of her teaching experience was in special education because she believed all children could learn no matter what their circumstances. She preached education , but also kept a firm hand while doing so and let her students know that God was in control even though it was not” politically correct” to do so. She leaves to mourn her passing : her sister , Janet Hall; niece, Genevieve Thompson; brother-in-law, Charles Hall; cousins, Deborah Taylor and Carolyn McWilliams; godsons, Jerry Day, Matthew, Daniel and Joshua Shepherd and Brandon Holmes; best friend, Rev. Rhonda Williams; and dear friend, Clifford Alan Winder; and a host of other church members, relatives and friends.

Tributes

Dorothy Hopkins Winder

March 26, 1960 - June 5, 2011