Martha Marie Hopkins, 65, of Duluth, passed away on Friday, March 23, 2018, surrounded by her family in her home. Martha was born April 8, 1952, in Duluth, Minn., to Jordan "J.B." and Elsie Brown. She was raised in Duluth and attended Duluth Public Schools. Marti married the love of her life, Vance P. Hopkins, Jr., on Feb. 14, 1970. They were blessed with a very large family. Marti and Vance raised their children mostly in suburban Chicago, before moving back to Minnesota in 1991, after being away for 15 years. While in Illinois, Marti worked as an underwriter assistant at Allstate Insurance Company in Highland Park. After moving back to Duluth, Marti served as an advocate for minority students at Central High School. In Duluth, the family became members of Christ Temple Church. Marti was very active in the church. She served as church secretary, taught Christian education, and was choir director. Her ministry was music. Marti was gifted with a beautiful singing voice. She loved to sing the Glory of God. She had a deep love of the Lord and lived her life to share her faith. In the 1990s, the couple became members of the Duluth Community Gospel Choir. Marti later became the music director, for which she felt extremely blessed. From August 2005 until his death in 2012, Marti was by her husband's side as he served as pastor of God's Way Temple in Superior, Wis. In 2017, Marti became a member Shiloh Temple International Ministries, based in Minneapolis, under Bishop Richard B. Howell Jr. Marti loved to be around young people, helping them and encouraging them to live to their full potential. Marti and Vance's commitment to young people led them to become foster parents once their own children were grown. Marti loved to crochet, a skill her mother taught her. She enjoyed making things for others. Marti was preceded in death by her parents; beloved husband, Vance; son, Jessie; and brother, Jordan Beau Jr. Marti will be deeply missed by her children, Tara (Rafael), Vance III (Julie), Arrue and Alicia; 15 grandchildren; great-grandchild; sisters, Myrna, Mary, Missy, Michelle, and Nila Lee; extended family; and her many friends. VISITATION: 1pm Monday, April 2nd at Sunrise Funeral Home, 4798 Miller Trunk Hwy, with a celebration of life service to follow at 2pm. Please share online condolences and photos at www.SunriseFuneralHomeandCemetery.com

Visitation

APR 2. 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM (CDT)

Sunrise Funeral Home and Cremation Services & Cemetery 4798 Miller Trunk Hwy Hermantown, MN, 55811

Celebration of Life Service

APR 2. 2:00 PM (CDT)

Sunrise Funeral Home and Cremation Services & Cemetery 4798 Miller Trunk Hwy Hermantown, MN, 55811