Services for Edward Lewis Hopper will be Monday, July 6, 2015 at 11 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Meridian with the Rev. Rhett Payne officiating. Visitation will be held from 10-11 a.m. at the church, prior to the service. Burial will be at Magnolia Cemetery in Meridian with Robert Barham Family Funeral Home in charge of the arrangements.
Mr. Hopper, 87, of Meridian, died Thursday, July 2, 2015, at Anderson Regional Medical Center.
Mr. Hopper was a native of Meridian. He was a graduate of Davidson College and Columbia Theological Seminary, where he received his Master of Divinity. After serving churches in Birmingham, Ala., and Greenville, SC, he came to First Presbyterian Church of Lexington, where he served for 18 years as Senior Pastor until his retirement. He also served as Moderator of both Transylvania Presbytery and the Synod of the Covenant.
Mr. Hopper was the first president of the Lexington Alliance of Religious Leaders, a member of the Rotary Club, and a member of the first board of the Community Kitchen (later named the Hope Center). Mr. Hopper enjoyed travel, golf, meeting with his “breakfast group” at Jean’s Restaurant, and spending time with his family.
Survivors include his wife, Barbara Lincoln Hopper; a son, John Clingman Hopper; and six grandchildren: Aidan and Bella Hopper, Hoke Brunson III, Page Brunson Tellekamp, Jay Brunson, and Kate Brunson. He is also survived by Barbara Hopper’s children: Link Hall, Steve Hall, Laurie Hall Badwey, and John Hall; and her grandchildren: Agnes, Lincoln, and Amelia Hall; Elizabeth and Ann Marie Hall; and Nelson and Laura Grace Badwey.
Mr. Hopper was preceded in death by his daughter, Kathy Hopper Brunson, and his parents, John Allen Hopper and Bess Covington Hopper.
Honorary pallbearers will be James Purnell, Sam Forbert, Chuck Rea, Mark Porter, Sammie Bourrage, Thomas Dobbins, Myles Frank, Wade Sims, Alan Webb, and Trey Hannah.
Family and friends may sign the online guestbook at robertbarhamffh.com.