Vesper Hopkins Edwards

Vesper Mae Hopkins Edwards was born May 7, 1926 in the Sontag community of Rocky Mount, Virginia, the sixth child of Rev. Morton Harrison Hopkins and Eura Claytor Hopkins. She accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior at an early age which informed her living life to the fullest whether it was jumping out of trees, singing to the hills, sliding down the roof of the barn, or following her father as he farmed. 

She attended Brown School in Sontag and graduated from Virginia State College with a Bachelor of Arts in English. She attended Fisk University where she worked toward her Masters in English. At Fisk, she met and married Lamar Edwards. To this union was born four children. 

She taught in the public school systems in Clarksville, Tennessee and Cleveland, Ohio before returning to the Sontag community in 1967. She continued teaching in Franklin County until her retirement. 

Vesper’s love of travel resulted in excursions throughout the United States, Europe, and Japan. Back home, she participated in many community activities and was an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Franklin County Historical Society, and the National Education Association. She was a member of the Committee for the Ms. Senior America Pageant. Besides raising her family, her greatest love was participating in church, being part of Bible study, and singing in choirs. She sang in the Noel C. Taylor Community Choir (where she was President), the Franklin County Community Choir, and the Franklin Heights Baptist Church Choir.

Vesper remained active in her faith, worshipping at numerous churches, most recently at the CrossPointe campus of Franklin Heights Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents and siblings—Morton Banks Hopkins, Howard Bowles Hopkins, Linnie Anne Hopkins, William Jackson Hopkins, Marjorie Roberta Hopkins Price, and Rexford Lee Hopkins—and her former husband, Lamar Edwards.

She leaves to cherish loving memories…

Her Children

Brenda M. Edwards Schmeidler (Lloyd)

Eura E. Edwards

Min. Birdie A. Edwards

Lamar M. Edwards (Cheryl)

Her Grandchildren

Tracie L. Hill (Frederick)

Stephanie L. Ferguson (Donley)

Pamela A. Singleton (David)

Vesper H. Samuel (Yohannes)

Angelica H. Lynskey (Nelson)

Brandon M. Worrell (Shameka)

Birdie M. Trotter

Christian H. Edwards

Evan J. Daniels

Eleven Great-grandchildren

A host of loving family and friends

The family visitation will be held Monday, April 10, 2023 from 10-11 a.m. followed by a wake from 11 a.m.- 12 p.m. at Conner-Bowman Funeral Chapel. A graveside service, immediately following the wake, will be held at Franklin Memorial Park, 21440 Virgil H. Goode Highway, Rocky Mount, Virginia 24151.

Donations may be sent to CrossPointe Church, 201 Burnt Chimney Road, Wirtz, VA 24184. 

Arrangements by Conner-Bowman Funeral Home, 62 Virginia Market Place Dr., Rocky Mount, VA 24151