Mr. Henry T. Hopkins
(July 2, 1932 - November 4, 2025)
Viewing Location: Leevy's Funeral Home, 1831 Taylor Street, Columbia, South Carolina
Viewing Date & Time: Wednesday, November 12, 2025 / 2:00 P.M. - 6:00 P.M.
Funeral Location: New Light Beulah Baptist Church, 1330 Congaree Road, Hopkins, South Carolina
Funeral Date & Time: Thursday, November 13, 2025 / 1:00 P.M.
Interment Location: New Light Beulah Baptist Church Cemetery
Mr. Hopkins was such a big part of my life for much of my childhood, which was spent in the office at the Eau Claire Community Council. My mother, Celeste Phillips, was the Administrative Assistant for the ECCC and my sister, Ricki, and I were there with them often. Mr. Hopkins was a major part of my growing passion for civic duty. He encouraged me through my teen years and always had a smile and a hug.
Rest In Peace.
Our brother from the from the Wheeler Hill community and the Booker T. Washington family.
We are proud of your accomplishments
for community and the Booker T. Washington foundation.
Thank you
Franklin Bonner
Remembering Mr. Henry T. Hopkins (1932–2025)
Booker T. Washington High School, Class of 1950
On Thursday afternoon, family and friends gathered to honor the remarkable life and legacy of Mr. Henry T. Hopkins—a proud son of Wheeler Hill and a strong supporter of Columbia SC 63: Our Story Matters and the University of South Carolina Center for Civil Rights History & Research.
Raised on Wheat Street, Mr. Hop generously shared his memories, deepening our understanding of Booker T. Washington High School and the history of the Wheeler Hill community.
An unwavering civic leader, Mr. Hopkins served as President of the Booker T. Washington High School Foundation and helped secure and rehabilitate the historic Monteith School—now the Booker T. Washington/Monteith Cultural Center. I had the privilege of working closely with him to develop the exhibits in the Monteith Building
As Executive Director of the Eau Claire Community Council, he became a driving force in neighborhood revitalization and a mentor to political leaders.
Former Columbia City Councilman Sam Davis said it best: “He was the voice, the heart, and the machine that made things happen.”
For me, he was also a teacher—stern, direct, but always encouraging. I can still hear his booming greeting whenever he spotted me: “Brother Donaldson!” It was both a welcome and a charge to keep moving forward in the work.
A devoted deacon of New Light Beulah Church in Hopkins, Mr. Hopkins left an indelible imprint across our community.
May his legacy and lessons live on.
Well done, Brother Hop.
Remembering Mr. Henry T. Hopkins (1932–2025)
Booker T. Washington High School, Class of 1950
On Thursday afternoon, family and friends gathered to honor the remarkable life and legacy of Mr. Henry T. Hopkins—a proud son of Wheeler Hill and a strong supporter of Columbia SC 63: Our Story Matters and the University of South Carolina Center for Civil Rights History & Research.
Raised on Wheat Street, Mr. Hop generously shared his memories, deepening our understanding of Booker T. Washington High School and the history of the Wheeler Hill community.
A veteran of the U.S. Air Force and a graduate of the Air Force War College and the Supply Tech School, and an Airman First Class with the 73rd Air Depot Wing in France, he later devoted thirty-five years to the U.S. Postal Service before serving as a legislative aide to the South Carolina General Assembly.
An unwavering civic leader, Mr. Hopkins served as President of the Booker T. Washington High School Foundation and helped secure and rehabilitate the historic Monteith School—now the Booker T. Washington/Monteith Cultural Center. I had the privilege of working closely with him to develop the exhibits in the Monteith Building, an effort shaped by his knowledge and his deep commitment to preserving BTW history.
As Executive Director of the Eau Claire Community Council, he became a driving force in neighborhood revitalization, community development, and civic empowerment. He was a mentor and advisor to political leaders, neighborhood advocates, clergy, educators, and generations of young people.Former Columbia City Councilman Sam Davis said it best: “He was the voice, the heart, and the machine that made things happen.”
For me, he was also a teacher—stern, direct, but always encouraging. I can still hear his booming greeting whenever he spotted me: “Brother Donaldson!” It was both a welcome and a charge to keep moving forward in the work.
A devoted deacon of New Light Beulah Church in Hopkins, Mr. Hopkins left an indelible imprint across our community.
May his legacy and lessons live on.
Well done, Brother Hop.
To the family of Mr Hop. The name I called him. I grew up living across the street from him in the Colonial Heights neighborhood. He was a great person and neighbor. He worked diligent in and for the neighborhood. He was the president for the neighborhood for a long time. He will be missed from the neighborhood.
Take your flight and rest now for your work down here is done.
Sincere condolences are extended to the family of Mr. Hopkins. I spent many years serving under his leadership as a member of the Booker T Washington High School Foundation Board of Directors. He was a strong, caring ,devoted Washingtonian who believed in perpetuating the legacy of our dear Alma Mater. Thanks for the service you rendered and the many lives you touched in the community. RIP my friend.
Deacon Hopkins was One of the delightful Deacons I’ve ever met. Compassionate, Caring and always a Calm spirit. Always willing to show a better way, Gods way. I will cherish our phone calls and prayers. Praying for the family.
Wayne and I send our deepest condolences to the family and friends. We are former neighbors from Grand Street. Lean into the God of all comfort!
Blessings
My sincere love and prayer to the Hopkins family.A great community leader and friend will be greatly missed.To all family members,remember God has his arms around each of you.
Another Columbia “Legend” has gone home . It was a pleasure to have known “T Hop”. May he rest in peace.
To a man I’ll never forget he was teacher a leader and friend
My condolences to the Hopkins family. I’ve always known him affectionately as Uncle Hop. He was a wonderful godfather and mentor. We had a long history of making each other laugh, he will be missed.
My condolences to the Hopkins family. I’ve always known him affectionately as Uncle Hop. He was a wonderful godfather and mentor. We had a long history of making each other laugh, he will be missed.
Sending our deepest condolences and prayers.
Sending prayers of comfort to the family of Deacon Hopkins. He served as a Deacon at New Light Beulah Baptist Church along with my father, deacon and then Minister Glisson and a Sunday School teacher. I can still picture him at the old church teaching Sunday School. He will be missed!
My prayers and condolences to the family. I was sadden to hear of the passing of Deacon Hopkins. Deacon Hopkins was our family deacon while at New Light Beulah Baptist Church for many many years. He was also an active lead with the Colonial Heights Community (where I grew up) and together we achieved great things. He would round up the children and put them (us) to work in the community. He would say, Children are our future and we should teach them how to do things to make a change. We all knew each others families in the community which made us a community of love with kindred spirits. Many thanks to Deacon Hopkins, get your rest and know the beacon of light is still shining and has passed throughout generations. RIP
Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Virginia and Aiken DeVeaux Neal http://www.abccolumbia.org
To the family of
Henry Thomas Hopkins:
A man who wrought long and hard as he lived a committed life of service to the many entities that he was associated with over the fourscore and beyond years that he had with us.
He is now ” missing in action”. from his long life of service and for all that he meant to his Church, his family, his alma mater and the greater Columbia Community where he toiled, day in and out.
But thanks be to God, he has “moved out to move in” as he now resides with a loving Savior.
My association with “Hop” was actually when he served as President of our beloved Booker T. Washington High School Foundation, particularly when we were in a state of transition, and were gifted with a house from across N. Main St. (by Mrs. Martha Cunningham Monteith) to the present site at 6808 N. Main St.
Henry Hopkins, led the process of transfer of the house and the subsequent renovations that provided our Washingtonians ,and the Board of Directors a site for meetings & other needs of our group.
He was unrelenting as he worked with the contractors, the school district, and others to repair & restore the house , lay out the yard as he labored to make the facility a useful place of existence.
It was a task that he remained committed to until it’s completion.
We shall forever remember his
dedication & his many hours of labor, & good deeds on “our behalf.”!
He did it because, as a BTW Washingtonian, class of 1950, he had that “old BT spirit” to the end!
May he now rest from his labor as his good deeds do follow him!
Servant of God well done!
Touched By an Angel and is now on The Highway to Heaven, Condolences to the family. Mr. Hopkins, T Hop, Mr. Hoppy. Those were his nick names. To know Mr. Hopkin was a pleasure a caring and giving man with a BIG HEART. Each Thursday will not be the same, that was my day to bring his lunch. Family God has his arms. around you today and tomorrow. Loved Mr. Hopkins and will truly miss him.