BETTY HOPSON-TAYLOR

Aug. 15, 1944 - June 17, 2010
Servant of God, well done. Thy glorious warfares past The battle's fought, the race is won. And thou are crowned at last. SOUTH BEND - Pastor Betty Ann Hopson-Taylor went home to be with the Lord in her home on June 17, 2010. She was the Pastor and Co-Overseer of the Holiness Church of God. Pastor Taylor was born to the union of the late Bishop James Sr. and Mother Olevia Hopson in Paducah, Kentucky. She was the youngest and the only girl of four siblings.

She attended Linden Elementary and Central High School in South Bend, Indiana.

Wanting to further her education, Pastor Taylor attended business administration classes at Ivy Tech and Davenport University. In 2006 she received a certificate of completion in Bible and later obtained her associate degree in Bible and Ministry from Bethel College in 2008. She retired from Family and Children's Center as administrative assistant after 29 years. Pastor Taylor was united in holy matrimony to Joseph Taylor on November 23, 1991. She loved her family and was committed to seeing them be successful in all that they strove to do. She was a devoted wife, loving mother, and her greatest pleasure and gift was helping others. Pastor Taylor had a listening ear and frequently reminded her family to always pray and God will answer. She was always an encouragement and lead by example. She taught her children to love God and to seek Him first. She and her husband supported each other in every way and to know them, you would have seen an example of God's perfect love.

Pastor Taylor was baptized in the name of Jesus by her father in Paducah, KY. She tarried until she received the gift of the Holy Ghost at the young age of eight. She labored faithfully and diligently with her parents in the Holiness Church of God her entire life. She started playing the piano for church services at the age of 14. She held the office of local president of the Y.P.C.W. from 1962 until 2001. One of her greatest accomplishments was to edit and publish the Jubilee Legacy, a 50-year history book of the Holiness Church of God. On April 23, 1993, she accepted her calling into the ministry to preach the Gospel and was ordained by the Late Bishop Hospson Sr. on June 15, 1994. The Family Matters Ourtreach Ministry was implemented by her in July 1996. She was appointed pastor of the Holiness Church of God Headquarters on June 27, 2004, and was installed co-general overseer of the Holiness Church of God organization by the presiding General Overseer Bishop James Hopson Jr. On May 18, 2009, she traveled to Washington, DC, with other faith- based leaders in support of the health care reform. During her time as pastor, many souls were saved, healed and delivered. Pastor Taylor often prayed that the Lord would knit the saints together in kindness and love. Her favorite Scripture was 1 Peter 5:7 - "Casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for you."

She leaves to cherish her memory her loving husband, Joseph Taylor, and together their children, Angela Houston of Elkhart, IN, Willie Preston IV of Chicago, IL, Anthony Preston (Ginger) of Pittsburgh, PA, Kevin Preston (Latonya) of South Bend, IN, Wanda Shaw (Lynn) of New Britian, CT, Veronica Taylor of Flint, MI, Joyce Brown (Richard) of Long Beach, CA, Janella Hutchinson of South Bend, IN; 21 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; two brothers, Bishop James Hopson Jr. and Arthur Hopson of Chicago;

one brother, Bishop Paul Hopson, preceded her in death;

a host of nieces, nephews other family and friends who loved her and supported her dearly. The Holiness Church of God and this community have lost a great woman of God. Services for Pastor Betty A. Hopson-Taylor will be Thursday, June 24th, in the Holiness Church of God, 1635 W. Linden Ave. Visitation at 9 a.m., funeral services at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery. The Clark-O'Neal Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements. To leave the family an online condolence or to share memoirs with the family, please visit our website at www.clarkoneal.com.

Published by South Bend Tribune on Jun. 21, 2010.

01/30/2023 EJS