Deacon Emeritus Henry Thomas Hopkins, affectionately known as the “Mayor of Eau Claire” and “THOP” by many was born on July 2, 1932, to Viola Hopkins in Hopkins, South Carolina.
Henry graduated from Booker T. Washington High School, in Columbia, South Carolina. He served four years with the US Air Force. In 1954, he returned to Columbia and completed three years of undergraduate work towards a bachelor’s degree in political science at Allen University.
In 1955, Henry started a 35-year career with the US Postal Service as a Letter Carrier. During his tenure at the post office. Henry honed his leadership and negotiating skills by leading a campaign to organize the first Letter Carriers’ Union.
Following retirement, Henry served as a Legislative Aide in the SC General Assembly between 1988-1990.
Since about 1990, Henry was actively involved in service to Columbia neighborhoods. He served as president of the Columbia Council of Neighborhoods and as president of his neighborhood association, Lin-Col-Lat. He was the Executive Director of the Eau Claire Community Council, a neighborhood collaborative representing 40 communities in North Columbia. Henry served on the Eau Claire Redevelopment Corporation, which outlined proposed growth and development in the North Columbia area. He also served on the Sumter -Columbia Empowerment Zone, which provided federal resources to the two communities to address issues of urban decay.
Henry was a member of the National Association of Letter Carriers, where he was awarded a 50-year gold medal,
the SC Baptist Youth Organization, the SC Children’s Foster Review Board, and the Columbia Area Mental Health Board. While Deacon Hopkins was proud of his civic and community contributions, he was most proud of his service to his church, where he maintained membership his entire life. During this time, he served for many years in several capacities including Church Clerk, Youth Council Advisor, Sunday School Teacher, Daycare Advisory Board, Tutoring Teacher, and Meals on Wheels participant. He was a Deacon for 48 years.
He was also proud of the work he did for the Booker T Washington Foundation, where he led efforts to archive historical artifacts from the closed school and restore the Booker T. Washington Auditorium, where the history of the school is preserved for future generations.
Henry was the recipient of many awards, certificates and proclamations, including The Order of the Silver Crescent given by Jim Hodges, Governor of South Carolina,
for outstanding contributions to the state.
Deacon Emeritus Henry Thomas Hopkins departed this life on Tuesday, November 4, 2025. He was preceded in death by his wife, Doris Clark Hopkins, and his mother, Mrs. Viola Hopkins Parker.
He leaves to cherish his memory: two children, Marvin A. Sumter (Linda) of Van Buren Township, MI and Thelma Runaa Hill of Chesterfield, Virginia; one grandson; Joseph L. Hill, Jr. of Chesterfield Virginia; a devoted and loving cousin; Dorothy Weston of Columbia, SC; a goddaughter, Wendy McBride Peters; a host of other relatives and friends.
