Alec Hopper

Alec Martin Hopper, age 83, was received by the Lord Jesus Christ on Sunday morning May 23, 2010. He was born September 12, 1926 in the city of York, South Carolina to the late Euell and Maggie Paire Hopper. He was the youngest of 11 children. He completed his basis studies at Davison College, Mississippi College and Georgia Tech. After serving in the United States Air Force during WWII, he graduated from Atlanta Art Institute with a Fine Arts Degree. In Alec's high school years his family relocated to Rock Hill, South Carolina where he was privileged to study with Norman Rockwell, finding his passion for Art. In 1948, he accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and felt the call to combine his talent of art and music. He graduated from Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas with a Bachelor's Degree in Religious Education and a Masters Degree in Sacred Music. During his studies at Southwestern he was invited as a Chalk Artist to First Baptist Church, Troup, Texas where he met the love of his life, Nell Gee. They were married on September 5, 1953 and blessed with three precious children. Alec served as Minister of Music at First Baptist Church Minden, Louisiana; First Baptist Church Lake Charles, Louisiana; Queensborough Baptist Church, Shreveport, Louisiana and served as Minister of Music and Religious Education at First Baptist Church Jonesboro, Georgia. During these years of service he had the distinguished honor of using his talent of music and art for the Baptist State Conventions of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana. Alec is survived by his wife, Nell; his daughter, Becky Avery; his son, Mark; and his son and his wife, Bruce and Tammie; five grandchildren, Jarod, Ashley and husband Seth, Derek, Jenna and Alec; one brother E.W. Hopper of Pawly's Island, South Carolina. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by nine siblings, Marie, Faye, Web, Marion, Theodore, DeWitt, Mary, Eugene and Walter. The celebration of his life will be held at Green Acres Baptist Church Chapel, 1607 Troup Highway, Tyler, Texas, Thursday, May 27th at 1:30 p.m. The service will be conducted by Dr’s. Rick Edmonds and Kenny Joyner, both of Shreveport, Louisiana. Visitation will be at Stewart Family Funeral Home, 7525 Old Jacksonville Hwy., Tyler, Texas, Wednesday, May 26th at 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Burial will be at Pinecrest Cemetery, Troup, Texas. Our special thanks to all our friends, doctors, nurses and Hospice of East Texas for their loving care and prayer support through this season of our lives. For more information or to express condolences, visit www.stewartfamilyfuneral.com.

Alec Hopper

September 12, 1926 - May 23, 2010