Pastor Harold Hopkins, 96, a true servant of God, made his transition on Monday, January 18, 2021 at 3:30 a.m.

Pastor Harold Hopkins was born on September 5, 1924 in Thomasville, Ga., to Roxie Morrow. He was raised by his loving grandparents, Gilbert & Mary Jane Hopkins, and was saved July 1934 at Springhill Baptist Church in Thomas County. Pastor Hopkins attended high school in Coolidge, Ga., and graduated in June of 1943. He served in the Armed Forces from 1943 to 1945 and was a member of the World War II Red Ball Express. He continued his education at South High School in Youngstown, Oh. and attended Central Bible College in Cleveland, Oh.

Pastor Hopkins graduated in 1963 from the Baptist Seminary of the Bible in Cleveland, Ohio. He pursued his religious education at Malone Christian College with special emphasis on Studies in Christian Education, attended The American Baptist Theological Seminary in Youngstown, Ohio and Moody Bible Institute Extension in Akron, Ohio. He received his Bachelor of Theology from Central Bible College in Cleveland, Ohio and held a

Preliminary and Advanced Teacher's Certificate from the Evangelical Teacher's Training Association in Wheaton,  Illinois. Pastor Hopkins was accepted at the Ashland Theological Seminary in Ashland, Ohio for the Master of Ministry Program.

He was ordained on September 20, 1959 at Greater Friendship Baptist Church in Youngstown, Ohio by Pastor BJ  Myers, The Eastern Ohio District Association, and Moderator, the late Dr. J. H. Britt. He served as Pastor of Friendship Baptist Church in Girard, Ohio from 1959 to 1965; Jerusalem Baptist Church in Canton, Ohio from 1965 to 1975, and at Shiloh Baptist Church in Akron, Ohio from 1975 to 1977.

He retired from Reeb Hossack as Pastor in Columbus, Ohio and he served as Interim Pastor at Tabernacle Baptist Church in Youngstown, Ohio. Later, he became Pastor of Mount Calvary 2nd Missionary Baptist Church in Canton, Ohio. Pastor Hopkins remained a loyal and faithful member of Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Massillon, Ohio until his death. He was an Instructor at the American Baptist Theological Seminary in Youngstown, Ohio for two years; Director in the Eastern Ohio District Association Sunday School and B. T. U. Congress; President of the Northern Ohio Association District Congress of Christian Education Convention Boards, and a member of the Publishing Board of the Progressive National Baptist Convention.

In 1957, he joined in holy matrimony with Audrey Phillips Harkless. He was preceded in death by his wife of 46 years, Audrey M. Hopkins, his Aunt, Janie Mae Hopkins who helped to raise him, his brothers, Louie, David, AJ, and Bob  Hopkins, and his son, Pastor Joseph H. Harkless.

He leaves to cherish his memories his daughter, Stephanie (Billy) Falconer of Shaker Heights, Ohio; his Son, Raymond P. Harkless of Massillon, Ohio; his Daughter-N-Law, Dorothy L. Harkless of Canton, Ohio, Nine Grandchildren, 14 Great Grandchildren, and 5 Great-Great Grandchildren; his Sister, Mary (Wes) Mickens, Thomasville, GA; Special Niece, Eleanor D. Baskins, Youngstown, Ohio; Special Nephew, Gilbert R. Hopkins, Houston, Texas; Special Friend, Mack McCLendon, Youngstown, Ohio; Sister-N-Law, Freda Phillips, Atlanta, GA; Spiritual Daughter, Norma Motley, Columbus, Ohio; Spiritual Nephew, Rev. Kenneth L. Simon, Youngstown, Ohio; The Brown Family of Wooster, Ohio, and a host of other loving family and friends.