Ethel Hopkins Black
December 10, 1945 ~ March 17, 2007
Resided in:
Asheville, NC
Asheville Butterfly Trail
Ethel Hopkins Black, 61, of Mt. Carmel Road, died Saturday, March 17, 2007, at her residence with her family with her.
A native of Asheville, she was the daughter of the late Dorothy Jamison Hopkins and William Ronnie Hopkins, Sr. and was also preceded in death by two sisters, Peggy Hopkins and Elizabeth Scroggs.
Ethel was a longtime member of Grace Baptist Church where she was a member of the choir, the Associate Director of the Children’s Choir and a Sunday school teacher of grades 1-3. She retired as Branch Manager of the First Citizens Bank on Patton Avenue with 35 years service.
Ethel is survived by her husband, Larry R. Black; daughter Lisa King and her husband Tracy of Leicester; three sisters, Dottie H. Dixon, Katherine H. Warren and Diane H. Hall and her husband Don, all of Asheville; her brother Bud Hopkins of Asheville; several nieces and nephews; two great nieces and two great nephews.
A funeral service will be held at 2:00 pm Tuesday at Grace Baptist Church conducted by the Rev. Drs. Wayne Adkisson and Derrill Smith. Interment will follow in Forest Lawn Memorial Park.
The family will receive friends for one hour prior to the service Tuesday at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Grace Baptist Church Music Fund, 718 Haywood Road, Asheville, NC 28806, the Hope Womans Cancer Center, 100 Ridgefield Court, Asheville, NC 28806 or to CarePartners Hospice Center, PO Box 25338, Asheville, NC 28813.
We have missed Ethel since her retirement. We were so sorry to hear of her passing, but know she is in a better place. She was always such a pleasure to work with. Larry, Lisa and Tracey you are in our prayers – you were such a delight to her and she spoke of you often with me when I was at the bank.
LISA & TRACE-
Lees- I never got to meet your mom in person, but I sure wish I had because she had to have been a wonderful person with such a great daughter as you. She fought a brave battle – I’ll never understand why this awful disease happens to people. I know what you have been through having lost Tim to the same thing and our only comfort is to know that they are in a better place. I am so sorry for you and Trace and your family. It is such a hard thing to go through and I hope you know that even though I am up here in Massachusetts, my thoughts and my heart are with you. Trace- You know how much I love you – take care of Lees and pass along my sympathies to your family.
I wish I could be there- I love you guys.
Sis
I was so sorry to hear about Ethel. She was a wonderful person and I have missed her since she left the bank. We could always count on her.
My prayers are with you.
Dear Larry and family, My family and I are so sorry to hear about Ethel. Our prayers go out to each of you. We know exactly what you are going through. She fought a long hard battle just like Jerry. We have to hold onto the truth knowing they are in heaven with new bodies and not suffering anymore. May God keep each of you during your great loss and grief.
Praying for you,
Betty Plemmons and family
I was so sorry to hear of mrs. black’s passing. She was such an influence on me and my becoming a christian and being saved. I pray that God’s peace be with all of you. She is with the Lord.
Ethel was a wonderful friend. I worked with her at First Citizens for many years. She will surely be missed by all. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this time.
We knew Ethel through the first citizens bank for the last 34 years, and became good friends with her thru the years. We will miss her greatly, our prayers and condolences to her family.
My prayers and thoughts are with each one of you. Ethel was a very special lady. I had met her in the Strength for Living Support Group at the Hope Cancer Center. May God give you the peace, comfort and love needed at this time. We know we will see Ethel again where there will be no pain and suffering, no tears and no more cancer. I pray God’s blessings on each of you. Allie Sawyer
Lisa: So sorry to hear about your Mom’s death. Have been through this myself and it will get better. Hope to see you and Trace at Fan Fair this year. God Bless You.
Diana Gondek
I am very sorry to hear of Ethel’s passing but I know that she is at peace and in no more pain. My prayers are with both of you.
Larry and Lisa, I worked with Ethel at FCB 20 years ago. We became friends and she was very helpful to me when I was expecting my first child. I will miss her. My prayers are with you. I know she is in a better place now.
We shared Pulmonary Rehab with Ethel and Larry, and were always amazed by her wonderful spirit and smile. We will miss her, and will hold our memories of her in our hearts. Our thoughts are with you, Larry, and we hope you will return to your Pulmonary Rehab family when you are able. Ann and Glen
MAY GOD BLESS ETHEL’S FAMILY, VERY SWEET LADY….VERY SHOCKING WHEN I PICKED UP THE PAPER….I KNEW SHE RETIRED FROM FIRST CITIZENS, I DONE A LOT OF BANKING WITH HER, SHE WAS A VERY HELPFUL LADY, MISSED HER ALOT….THE BANK DOES NOT SEEM THE SAME….HER MEMORIES ARE MY TREASURE…ONE GREAT LADY THE LORD HAS MADE A PLACE FOR, HE NEEDED HER INTELLIGENCE ALSO…..I’LL BE PRAYING FOR HER FAMILY…..
LOVE, JANET
Ethel was a loving friend of ours for over 40 years, Please know that God’s love surrounds you at this time of pain, as does ours. She will be greatly missed by all of us.
With Deepest Sympathy as you remember your loved one.
Larry & Lisa, I am so sorry to learn of Ethel’s death. Please accept my heartfelt condolences. When Glenda and I last visited you in September we had such a wonderful time. It was so good to see you both again. May the Lord keep you and shine his everloving grace upon you.
I am very sorry for your loss. I feel blessed to have had the honor of getting to know Ethel during her chemotherapy. She was a wonderful lady who endured her illness and treatment with grace and dignity. She will be missed. Our prayers are with you.
Larry,
My thoughts and memories are with you at this sad time.
Carolyn Brown Jones
Larry and Lisa, I am so sorry for your loss. Please let me know if there is anything I can do for you. You are in my prayers.
Ethel was very dear to me. I came to know her through First Citizens Bank many years ago. We weren’t just business acquaintances, we became friends. Her passing just doesn’t seem real. My deepest sympathy to her family and also to the many friends that Ethel had in her life. She will be missed.
Joyce Dover-Evans
and husband Phillip
Larry and Lisa, I’m sorry to hear about the passing of Ethel. I didn’t know of her fight with cancer. With the passing of mom in November, I know how you feel. It doesn’t make it any easier, but time does help and talking with people you know about her life. Again, I’m sorry for your loss. She was a great woman.
I was only 6 when we moved away, but I remember cookouts on our back porches. I remember Fritz, our jerman shepherd, running up and down the fence between our properties. I remember Lisa playing records or 8 tracks out on your front step. That’s not a lot, but having talked with her a few times when I’ve visited, I know she was a woman of character, and I’m glad to have known her. She’s in a better place now.
The Matt Klint Family
Larry and Lisa,
I’m so very sorry for your loss. Have faith in knowing that Mom was waiting with open arms to except Ethel into the house of the Lord.
The two of them are talking at this very moment, hands moving a mile a minute. As they always did when they talked.
When the time is right, if you need to talk, email me or call Dad for my number.
Love always Jason, Stacy, Samantha, Tyler Klint
Dear Larry,Lisa and extended Family,
What a blessing Ethel was to everyone who met her. I was so privledged to have had Ethel as a mentor at First Citizens Bank and we became fast friends. Ethel was always supportive and caring not only work related but personally as well. Our lives will not be the same without her smiling face and giving personality. We thank God for Ethel’s life and all she has been to each of us. We will continue to pray for all of you through this difficult time. Our loss is heavens gain.
Love: Gil,Sheila,Aaron & Andrew Walden
We will miss you but we know you are in a better place. With all our love, Bill Rusty & Sheri
I have been fortunate to work with Ethel at First Citizens for many years. She has blessed me by her caring personality and taught many of us with her banking knowledge from her vast experience. It was a loss when she retired but now the loss is so much greater. You are all in our thoughts and prayers. Ethel lived her faith so we all know she is in a better place.
God Bless,
Diane Edwards
Dear Larry and Lisa: My prayers are with you at this sad time. I loved Ethel and cherish all the wonderful 20 plus years we shared in teaching the first and second graders at Grace Bapt. Church. I admired Ethel so much and she had a special concern and love to share Jesus with each one of those precious children. She loved to teach and it was an honor to work with her. I will miss her, but can’t you just hear her beautiful voice in that heavenly choir. Love and prayers, Peggy Oxner
Dear Larry & Lisa & Extended Family,
Words can never begin to say what Ethel meant to me. I will never forget the first time I met Ethel. I walked into a business meeting and I was the ‘new hire’ and Ethel smiled and said ‘welcome’ and that was the beginning of our special friendship. Ethel and I had so much in common and she was always there when I needed assistance or encouragement. She was a blessing to me each and every day and I was blessed to call her my friend. I miss her so much already but I know we will be together again someday in our heavenly home.
Dear Larry and Family,
Ethel was such a sweet, caring person and knowing her on both a professional level at the bank and through Dr. Chang’s office I have only very fond memories of her. Your whole family is my thoughts and prayers.
Cindi and Lee Thompson
Rachel, Matthew and Ian
Modesto, California
I am so sorry to hear of Ethel’s passing. She was a very special person to me. I also worked for FCB and had the wonderful opportunity to work with Ethel on several occasions. She became a dear friend and confidant and I will truly miss her. Your family is in my prayers.
Dear Larry and Lisa,
I am sorry for your loss. My prayers are with you and your family. I know Ethel from the bank and from my office(Dr Merrill’s). Ethel was very dear to me and a wonderful lady. If I can do anything, let me know.
Dear Larry and Lisa, Ethel was my friend since first grade and I will miss her a lot but I know she is in a better place and I will see her again some day. Bless you both in your time of need and bless the sisters that stood by your side as she went home. I love you all
To Larry and family – I met Ethel about a year ago at the Hope Cancer Clinic Strength Meetings on the first Tuesday of each month. We always sat together and prayed together. I will miss her very much and I’m honored to have known her if it was for such a short time.
Dear Larry & family members,
I was sorry to here of the passing of Ethel. I have known Ethel for about 45 years or longer. Ethel and her sister Diane and I grew up in Grace Baptist Church. We were just in our early teens.
I was blessed a few months ago to see and talk with Ethel, when I came to Grace Baptist Church when I was visiting with my Mom and Dad.
I rejoice to know, because of her witness, she is with the Lord and she has no more pain or sickness and that she has a new body.
May the Lord comfort you during this time.
I was deeply saddned by the news of Ethel’s passing. Through the years Ethels wisdom, kindness, strength and understanding helped me and many others through some difficult times. Ethel was always there for anyone that needed her.
I am comforted to know that Ethel is now receiving the eternal reward for living such an exemplary life. Tell Rock hello for me Ethel, I miss you both
Larry and Family: Our thoughts and prayers are with you. I count it a great privilege to have worked with Ethel and shared many conversations with her through the years. Her strong Christian faith was evident in her daily walk. She will be missed, but I am thankful that we will see her again one day !
Dear Family, we are so sorry for your loss. We knew Ethel from First Citizens Bank. She was a very kind, loving and caring person who was always there for you. Hold onto your memories, and let them guide you during this time of sadness