Hopie Lee (Young) Johnson

Hopie Lee Young Johnson, daughter of the late Alexander and Mammie Young, was born and delivered by a midwife on March 13, 1936 (recorded March 21, 1936) in Thomasville, North Carolina.  On April 18, 2024, her Heavenly Father whispered in her ear, “The world is no longer your home, it’s time to come home, come unto me and rest”.

Hopie was educated in Thomasville City Schools.  As a young girl, she enjoyed brief but frequent visits with her dad to Mocksville, NC, to visit her paternal grandmother and her sisters.  At the age of twelve, Hopie began to work in the homes of “white folks”, primarily caring for their children, cooking, and cleaning; this work would span two decades.  Hopie’s mother, Mammie, was “the best cook in the world”, and thus, Hopie knew her way around a kitchen.  Her early work in the homes of rather affluent others taught Hopie a wealth of knowledge in maintaining a clean and organized living environment.  She even pressed our sheets and pillowcases.

As her children grew to greater independence, Hopie obtained her CNA credentials and enjoyed the empathic work of caring for the sick and elderly in nursing homes, within the Thomasville area.  She also enjoyed carpenter work, as exhibited by the many enhancements and repairs to her own Thomasville home.  This fervor grew out of the many years in which she had watched her dad “Alec” repair the many rental homes he owned in Thomasville.

As a teenager, Hopie met Garland Ernell Johnson (“Johnson”), also of Thomasville, NC.  Johnson was four years her senior, but “the love bug bit them both’, and then came their first little blessing, Danny Carl Johnson. Johnson and Hopie married and were subsequently blessed by the births of Tony Garland, Sylvia Ann, Loretta Ann, and Regina Hope. Tony Garland Johnson, name changed later to Isa Muhammad, passed away on January 6, 2018. 

Left to cherish Hopie’s memory: Danny C Johnson (Alice) of High Point, NC; Sylvia A Stokes (the late Robert) of High Point, NC; Loretta A. Johnson-Tate of Cave Spring, VA, and Regina H Ross of Richmond, VA.  Nine grandchildren:  Danny Carl Johnson, Jr. (Angie), Montreal Larcell Johnson (Felicia), Jeremy Brian Johnson (Kristie), Tameka Janell Johnson Sammy (Sean), Anthony Lashawn Johnson (Lafarra), Robert McClain Stokes, Jr. (Renee), Alicia Ann Lavon Stokes, Leah Alexandria Tate, and Jessica Taylor Ellerbe Johnson.  Hopie also leaves to this life nineteen great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild, Kallie Lou.  A myriad of extended family members and friends who cared for her during her latter years, most notably her niece, Annie Ruth McCauley (the late Jimmy) of Thomasville, NC, remain.  Thank You God!

A Memorial Service will take place on Friday, April 26, 2024, at the Chapel of Johnson and Sons Funeral Home, 206 Fourth Street, High Point.  The service will begin at 12:00 noon.

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