Dr. Lou Ross “Candy” Hopewell passed away peacefully in her brother’s home in Norfolk on July 2, 2011, after a brief illness.  She was 65.  Candy was born and raised in Portsmouth, was a long time resident of Powhatan, VA, and most recently a resident of the village of Eclipse in Suffolk.  Candy was the daughter of the late Harry Lynn and Charlotte Mathews Hopewell.  She was predeceased by her oldest brother, Lynn Hopewell.

Dr. Hopewell was educated in the Portsmouth Public Schools, graduating from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1963.  She earned a bachelor’s degree from Elon University, a master’s degree from Old Dominion University, and a Ph.D. from the College of William and Mary.

Her professional career as an educator spanned over 40 years, as she climbed the ranks, as a teacher, a principal, and a school president.  Most recently Dr. Hopewell was an English professor at Tidewater Community College.  The schools she led with unsurpassed skill were St. Edward-Epiphany School; Blessed Sacrament at Belmead, which she single-handedly created; and Blessed Sacrament Huguenot Catholic School.  Perhaps her greatest accomplishment was the historic merger of Belmead and Huguenot Academy, which became BSH.  Not only was Candy a brilliant educator and administrator, she was unequaled as a generous, giving person.

Dr. Hopewell was an active member of Saint John Neumann Catholic Church in Powhatan.  She was a member of the Forum Club of Portsmouth, the Fort Nelson Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and affiliated with the Girl Scouts for over 25 years.

She is survived by her brother Robert Stewart Hopewell and wife Lee of Norfolk, and her sister Charlotte Nina Hopewell Lodge and husband Richard of Portsmouth.  Candy also had 6 first cousins from the Mathews family, and 11 nephews and nieces.  Candy had been surrounded by an amazing circle of close and dear friends, many who have known each other since they were young girls.  And, although Candy had no children, she in fact had hundreds.

    A memorial service will be held at Sturtevant Funeral Home, 5201 Portsmouth Blvd. in Portsmouth at 1 pm, Saturday, July 9.  The burial will follow at Olive Branch Cemetery in Portsmouth
    A Memorial Mass will be held at Saint John Neumann Catholic Church in Powhatan, VA at 11:00 am, Saturday, July 16.
    Family and friends are welcome at the home of Nina and Richard Lodge, 4644 Winston Road in Portsmouth