Sympathy Saturday - Dennis Hopkins (1969-2025)

   Sympathy Saturday will be where I share the obituaries and my condolences for members of my family tree who passed recently.  When you get to be a certain age, you begin to read the obituaries every day.  As the days go by, you read about more and more of your friends and family members who have died.  You compare their age to your own and get a jolt. "That could have been me." 

For genealogists, checking obituaries and visiting cemeteries is as normal as breathing. I learn so much from an obituary, i.e., maiden names, parents' names; children's' and grandchildren's' names, funeral and burial locations, sometimes even a cause of death.  I want to learn these things not for any purpose but to put it on the family tree for future generations to see and learn about the family that went before them. I admit, most of these relatives I have never met, but I think it is important to share that they were here on this Earth, and they were important.

So I am signed up with at least three funerals homes from Swainsboro, Vidalia, and Wrightsville to get daily notices of obituaries sent to my email.  Every day, I peruse them and with the help of the family tree, figure out who is related to me and add any new information to the tree.    Some weeks there are several, and some weeks there are none.  This week, I only have one to share.

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Mr. Dennis Hopkins, 55, of Swainsboro, passed away Wednesday, February 19, 2025.

He was born in Swainsboro on September 30, 1969, to Edward Hopkins and Trannie Wilkerson Hopkins. He was preceded in death by his brother, Donald Hopkins.

Dennis was one of a kind. He was a determined man, hardheaded, stubborn, set in his ways, but he was also the love of my life. He stole my heart when I was 14 years old, and he never turned it loose. He was smart, funny, charming and the most handsome thing I had ever seen. He was my heart. He loved to fish, hunt, and play his guitar and sing. The Lord knows he was great at that. We traveled many miles for him to play and sing over the years. We had good times over the years, but we also had tough times, but we fought our way through everything that came along. We had Heather and Cody, and he taught them everything he could so that they would be able to stand on their own. I have to say he was a wonderful daddy (Deddy). He loved our babies with everything he had. He would have followed them to the ends of the earth. He coached them in ball, taught Cody how to play the guitar, how to change their oil and tires, taught Cody how to operate big machinery before he even had a license to drive. He taught them everything he could. When the grandbabies started coming you could just see his heart explode, he loved them so much. He always smiled the most when they were around.

Dennis fought a long hard battle for many years. The diabetes took it’s toll on his body so that over time he just got wore down. The last few years were exceptionally hard on him when he had his amputations. Within 3 months, he lost both his hands and his right foot. He was a fighter, and he fought so hard, but I do not think he really smiled again after that. Life got so hard for him. He would push through the best he could, but I often wondered if he was doing it for himself or for us. He was tired and had been for quite a while.

Dennis Hopkins, you were the love of my life. I have loved you since day one and I always will. I have seen you fight and struggle for so long, now it is time for you to rest. You gave it everything you had and then some. You taught our babies everything you could and for that I am so grateful. You shaped them into the wonderful adults they are and the most amazing parents. You will always have my heart, and you will always be with me. There will never be a time that I do something that I will not think of you. Your fight is over and for us the days to come will be extremely hard, but we also know you are at peace. You go play that guitar in heaven for you are whole again now and keep an eye on us down here. I love you; I always have and always will. Love you bunches, Susan.

Mr. Hopkins is survived by his wife of 36 years, Susan Wilson Hopkins of Swainsboro; parents, Edward & Trannie Hopkins of Swainsboro; son, Cody Hopkins (Chelsea) of Swainsboro; daughter, Heather Murry (Matt) of Swainsboro; grandchildren, Noah Hopkins, Mason Murry, Aubri Murry, Jax Hopkins and Chase Hopkins; several , aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and many friends.

Funeral services will be Sunday, February 23, 2025, 3:00 p.m. at Jesus Saves Church with Reverend Brad McKenzie officiating, assisted by Reverend Johnny Baggett and Reverend Shannon Boula.

Interment will follow at Eastbrook Cemetery and Mausoleum.

Pallbearers will be Terry Reese, Tommy White, Chris Wilkerson, Tim Wilkerson, Randy Wilkerson, Henry Wilkerson.

Honorary pallbearers will be past musicians Dennis played with over the years.  

The family will receive friends Saturday, February 22, 2025, from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at Chapman Funeral Home.

Condolences may be expressed at www.chapmanfhofswainsboro.com.

Chapman Funeral Home of Swainsboro is in charge of the arrangements for Mr. Dennis Hopkins, 55, of Swainsboro.  

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Dennis was the husband of my 3rd cousin, 2x removed, Susan Wilson.  I am related to Susan on my Page line.  Our common ancestors are Solomon Page Jr (1800-1860) and Elizabeth Caroline Scoggins (1802-1880).  

Please join me in offering condolences to Dennis's family and holding them in the light.

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - Four Things!

  From Randy (a cousin discovery!!) over at Genea-Musings:

it's Saturday Night - 

time for more Genealogy Fun!!!

Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to:

(1)  Let's answer some family history related questions with four responses (Four Things!).

(2)  Tell us all about it in your own blog post, in a comment to this post, in a post on Facebook, or on Twitter.  

Here's mine:

Four names I go by:

(1)  Liz

(2)  Elizabeth

(3)  Lizard

(4)  Mama 

Four places I have lived:

(1) Swainsboro, Georgia

(2) Milledgeville, Georgia

(3) Covington, Georgia

(4) Durham, North Carolina

Four ancestral places I have visited:

(1)  Johnson County, Georgia

(2)  Jacksonville, Florida

(3)  Pendleton, South Carolina

(4)  Redlands, California

Four interesting places I have visited:

(1)  Williamsburg, Virginia

(2)  Los Angeles, California

(3)  Amsterdam, Netherlands

(4)  Washington, D.C.

Four favorite/most interesting ancestors/family members:

(1)  Morgan Goodgame Swain (1805-1851)

(2)  Stephen Hopkins (abt. 1581-1644)

(3)  Gordon Wesley Tapley (1894-1959)

(4)  Sarah  Tapley (1775-bet.1850-1860)

Four favorite genealogy record collections:

(1)  Obituaries

(2)  Historical newspapers

(3)  Marriage records

(4)  Military records, including pension applications

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun - "Who Was Your First Ancestor Born in...?"

 From Randy (a cousin discovery!!) over at Genea-Musings:

it's Saturday Night - 

time for more Genealogy Fun!!!

Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to:

(1)  Lorine McGinnis Schulze asked in her blog post "Who Was Your First Canadian or American Born Ancestor?"

(2)  Let's broaden it a bit to "Who was your first ancestor born in Canada, America, or your chosen country, state, province, or county?" based on your known ancestry.

(3)  Tell us all about it in your own blog post, in a comment to this post, or in a post on Facebook.  

Here's mine:

None of my ancestors were from Canada.  Most were from various countries in Europe, but I haven't "jumped the pond" yet in my research.  So I'll be concentrating on various states in the United States.

- My first ancestor born in American and the state of Connecticut was my 9th great-grandmother, Mary Hubbard, born 16 Jan 1642 in Hartford, Connecticut.  She was the daughter of George Hubbard Sr and Elizabeth Watts Hubbard.

- The first of my ancestors born in Massachusetts was Stephen Snow, born before 1648, though I'm not sure exactly where in Massachusetts.  He was my 8th great-grandfather.  His parents were Nicholas Snow and Constance Hopkins Snow.  Constance came over as a teenager on the Mayflower in 1620 and Nicholas came over three years later on the Anne.

- The first of my ancestors born in New York was Jacob Isaac Osman, born 1732 in Suffolk County, New York.  He was my 5th great-grandfather.  He was the son of Isaac Osman and Mary Bayley Osman.

- Pennsylvania:  Peter Conrad Hesser was born 1760 in Germantown, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.  He was my 5th great-grandfather.  His parents were Johann Conrad Hesser and Anna Heizer Hesser.

- After a migration to the Western Reserve, my 4th great-grandfather, Luther Boardman Ranney, was the first of my ancestors born in Ohio.  He was born in Hudson, Summit County, Ohio on 28 Nov 1809.  He was the son of Comfort Ranney and Elizabeth Hubbard Ranney.

- Soon the Ranney family migrated again... to Michigan.  The first of my ancestors born there was also named Luther Boardman Ranney (grandson of the one mentioned above).  He was born 11 Mar 1870 in Chapin, Saginaw County, Michigan.  He was my great-grandfather.  He was the son of Comfort Ranney and Mary Margaret Hesser Ranney.

Now let's head south...

- Virginia was the landing place of most of my southern ancestors.  The first of my ancestors born there was Thomas Jordan II, born 07 July 1634 in Isle of Wight County.  Thomas was my 8th great-grandfather.  His parents are unknown.

- The first of my ancestors born in North Carolina was my 5th great-grandfather, Dempsey Goff.  He was born in 1758 somewhere in the state.  His parents are unknown.  

    

    (However, this information is unsourced so to be on the safe side, let me say that it is possible that my first ancestor born in North Carolina was actually Francis Bryant Drake.  He was born 16 Oct 1806 in Nash County.  He was my 3rd great-grandfather and the son of Richard Drake and Pherabah Bryant Drake.)

- My 3rd great-grandmother, Sarah Tapley, born in 1775, was the first of my ancestors born in South Carolina.  She was born on a stopover during the family's migration from North Carolina to Georgia.  She was the daughter of Newhampton Tapley.  Her mother's identity is unknown.

- Last but not least is my home state of Georgia.  Samuel Goff was born 1790 in Emanuel County, Georgia.  He was my 4th great-grandfather.  He was the son of Dempsey Goff and Catherine Herring Goff.  

    

    (Again, the Goff information is not well sourced, so it is possible that the first ancestor of mine born in Georgia was one of Sarah Tapley's twins.  George Washington Tapley (my 2nd great-grandfather) and James Marion Tapley were born 02 May 1814 in Emanuel County, Georgia.  Their father was Canneth Swain.)

On Board the Mayflower

 Happy  Thanksgiving!  

The Pilgrims celebrated the very first Thanksgiving 399 years ago in 1621.  After a very hard first year in the colony, the people had much to be thankful for.  Those that had survived the first winter in cold, snowy Massachusetts, a first harvest, and their new friends, the Native Americans who shared the celebration with them.  

2020 has been a very hard year.  A pandemic that has killed about 200,000 Americans; a very contentious presidential campaign; more racial division and violence that we could have thought possible; and for a lot of us, being unable to share Thanksgiving with our loved ones due to the fear of getting our elderly parents and grandparents or other health compromised family and friends sick.  Yet, each and every one has something to be thankful for this year.  Zoom.  Without it, we wouldn't even be able to see our family members' faces.  Food and a home.  At least we still have foot to eat and a roof over our heads.  Pets.  Miniature, fur-covered, full of personality someones who are here with us day in and day out to keep the loneliness at bay.    

I am also grateful for connections.  Connections to the past and where and who I come from.  Connections with "new" cousins around the country.  Connections with historical events and times.  It helps history come alive for me.  

Last weekend, I made an exciting discovery that has really made me realize the roots my family and I have put down in the United States.   I discovered that I am a direct descendent of someone who came over on the Mayflower in 1620.  

Let me just say that the possibility of being a Mayflower descendent never occurred to me.  Most of my family lines are from the southern U.S. and came into the country through Virginia.  But this is where it is handy to have "Yankee" ancestors!  The possibility was there.  Plus the New England colonies kept better records.  

I use a lot of Ancestry hints to help me with my research.  So while I was going through some hints last weekend, one came up that mentioned the Mayflower.  I was like, "What?!"  The last name was Snow, and that did sound familiar.  So I looked up the surname Snow in my Family Tree Maker 2019 database and there was Hannah Snow.  And I could trace her ancestors back to the Mayflower.  Then I searched for a list of passengers on the Mayflower on MayflowerHistory.com - still not believing it was possible.  Oh but it was.  My 10th great-grandfather and his daughter, my 9th great-grandmother, came over on the Mayflower.  

Here's the line from me all the way back:

Mary Elizabeth Tapley (me!)

Linda Irene Tapley (my mother)

Ethel Irene Ranney (1913-1973) (my grandmother)

Luther Boardman Ranney (1870-1943) (great-grandfather)

Comfort Ranney (1838-1920) (2nd great-grandfather)

Luther Boardman Ranney (1809-1890) (3rd great-grandfather)

Elizabeth Hubbard (1790-1868) (4th great-grandmother)

Thomas Hubbard II (1750-1803) (5th great-grandfather)

Hannah Snow (1720-1756) (6th great-grandmother)

Ebenezer Snow (unknown-1725) (7th great-grandfather)

Stephen Snow (bef. 1648-1705) (8th great-grandfather)

Constance Hopkins (abt. 1606-1677) (9th great-grandmother) came over on the Mayflower with her father, step-mother, and two siblings.

Stephen Hopkins (abt. 1581-1644) (10th great-grandfather) came over on the Mayflower with his wife and 3 children.  A 4th child was born during the voyage.  

Wow.  That's all I know to say.  Wow.

That's not all.  It turns out that Stephen Hopkins lived quite the life.  There is even a book written about him that I immediately ordered.  The book, Here Shall I Die Ashore - Stephen Hopkins: Bermuda Castaway, Jamestown Survivor, and Mayflower Pilgrim, was written by Caleb Johnson.  I haven't read it yet, but it teases even more on the back cover:

"By the time he {Stephen} turned forty, he had already survived a hurricane, been shipwrecked in the Bermuda Triangle, been written into a Shakespearean play, witnessed the famine and abandonment of Jamestown Colony, and participated in the marriage of Pocahontas.  He was once even sentenced to death! He got himself and his family onto the Pilgrims' Mayflower, and helped found Plymouth Colony. He signed the Mayflower Compact, lodged the famous Squanto in his house, participated in the legendary Thanksgiving, and helped guide and govern the early colonists."

Again, wow!  Can't wait to read the book!  

I will be writing and sharing more once I read the book and other information about the voyage and the Plymouth Colony.