Love is in the Lady

If this were a movie it would begin in black and white in a small house in the little country town of Lexington, Texas, right at the city limits near the bridge in a small area called Dogh Springs. It would be 1929, a pretty but dusty type day in June. June 6th to be exact, and the scene would consist of a strong young black woman by the name of Fannie Page Lovelady holding her new baby girl which she had decided to name Artis Ruth after her daddy, Artis, of course. Two young children would be looking on, as children do when a new baby has arrived. They would be Uline and Glen. Well-mannered children; looking on and talking to momma while keeping their eyes fixed on the pretty little baby, so cuddly and soft. Momma would be coaching Artis already, as she had the others since the moment of their births, nudging and nurturing them, encouraging them to learn, and to want to become the best they can be.

The scene fades and opens into full color in which we can visibly note years having passed. The family has grown from the three children to now the seventh having been born, and momma is now coaching him, as she had done with all the previous six, and all the children looking on, just as Uline and Glen had done when Artis was born. Now, as the children are older they begin teasing momma; mimicking her words as she talks to the baby urging him to be the best, even though he can¹t understand one word yet. The teasing turns into laughter, with mamma giving a pretty stern warning to them all, ³You better all go to College and get an education, or I will kill you all². Everyone laughs, and has a good time with the teasing, but, the sternness in momma¹s voice, even with the laughing, made a big impression on each and every one of the children. Momma really meant business.

The third scene focuses on Artis ­ Artis Ruth Lovelady: and this is where the real story begins. Artis had been raised in Rockdale, Texas and as a youngster she had to work early on as a domestic for the Baxter¹s, washing clothes, and as a maid for the Glen¹s. Life wasn¹t easy on any in the 30¹s and 40¹s in rural America and in black families, pretty much all the members of the family contributed with hard work and long hours. Having been raised by Fannie Page Lovelady, and having been coached daily to do her best, to get an education and excel in life as Momma would have it no other way, Artis, (loving her mother very much) was eager to please,( as were her other brothers and sisters).

Artis attended Aycock High School in Rockdale, Texas and in 1949 she graduated and went to Austin, Texas to attend Samuel Huston College (now Huston-Tillotson) while picking cotton to earn the money to pay her way. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Education in 1952. Life begins for Artis in Bastrop, Texas where she teaches English and Reading to grades 7­9; Health Education to grades 10-12; and Physical Education to grades 7­12; coaches backetball, tennis, softball, and track and field events; sponsors cheerleaders, dance troupe and gymnastics at Emile High School from 1952 to 1954. It was in 1953 when she married the love of her life, Sgt. Douglas Warren Hopkins of the United States Air Force.   For the next 18 years Artis and Doug build a family, (two boys and one girl). They settled down in Sherman, Texas where Artis taught, until 1962 when they moved up to Minneapolis, Minnesota and later over to Albuquerque, New Mexico where the family lived for approximately 6 years. These are the years we all remember of protests, and stone throwing at blacks that wanted to go to better schools, or get a better education. These are the days of marches with Martin Luther King, Jr, rebellion at having to sit at the back of the bus, in designated seats only; the days of segregated drinking fountains, bathrooms, restaurants, movie theaters, and of course it went on and on. And, yes Artis walked with Martin Luther King, Jr several times during the Œ60¹s. While living in Albuquerque, NM, She worked at one of the first Job Corp Centers where she taught Sex Education, Personal Health, and Venereal Disease Prevention for two years. It was during this season of her life when she was chosen as a special delegate to the National Food, Nutrition and Health conference held at the White House in Washington, D.C. in 1969. In 1972 Artis and Doug decided to call it quits. When the divorce was finalized Artis purchased a new home in San Lorenzo, California, close to her now grown children.

At the age of 43, Artis, had already accomplished a lot. She had joined the National Council of Negro Women and had served as Vice-president for two years and President for one. She had worked with the Hunger Workshop in Albuquerque, where she taught 128 foreign students from 28 different countries, English at the University of Minnesota in Œ65 and Œ66, earned numerous honors and had been attending college classes little by little along the way. Artis was driven ever onward and upward. She received her M.S. Degree in Education at California State University, Hayward, CA. And her final eductional goal was achieved at Sierra University, Costa Mesa, CA where she received her Ph. D in Education and became Dr. Artis Ruth Lovelady Hopkins, Ph. D.

Dr. Hopkins taught for the Hayward Unified School District until her retirement in 1994, but she has never really retired. She immediately took on the responsibility of International Chaparone to Russia where she was teacher/delegation leader for students traveling overseas, and had a wonderful time. If this were that movie I was tellingyou about at the beginning of this article, I would focus the camera on a happy, smiling, graying, young lady of 73, to be 74 on June 6 of 2003. We would be in her livingroom back in Rockdale, Texas, the place she calls home where the Lovelady family is. She is autographing her books for me and telling the interesting points of her life¹s story. And of course I am admiring her every accomplishment.

Dr. Hopkins is Author, Publisher, Public Speaker, Poet, Blues Singer, Dancer, Teacher, and encourager. She is hopelessly positive and sees the good in all things. She says she can¹t have negative around her, she has to get away from it, or get it away from her. She is most encouraging and uplifting to be around even when she is giving firm instruction. She is also a dear Sister in Christ and friend. Today at 73 she sells her books ³Teachers¹ Handbook For Basic Practical English Units For Grades 7 ­ 8² and ³Student Handbook For Basic Practical English Units For Grades 7 ­ 8², which she wrote during her life¹s journey; is available to teach classes on Public Speaking, and is a Public Speaking Consultant. In her journey through this life, she has received numerous awards and honors such as the NAACP Resolution she has proudly displayed on the wall in her home,, hornorable mention in the Personalities of the South, is a member of the NEA, Phi Delta Kappa, CAPHER, NAPHER, Natinal Council of Negro Women, and so on, and so on.

Incidently, Momma Fannie Page Lovelady was very successful with her coaching and nurturing of her children into a good education. Of all her seven children four received their Ph.D., three in education, one in science, and of the other three one is an Engineer, one an Architect, one a Banker. Three have passed on, Dr. Uline Appling, Dr. Hubert Glen Lovelady (Scientist/inventor) and Hulen Lovelady. And all Rockdalians know sister, Dr. Fannie Lovelady Spain, Rockdale City CouncilWoman. Momma Fannie passed on last year, and Daddy Artis Lovelady has gone on too, leaving behind many good memories. Dr. Hopkins said she came home to Rockdale as she had always intended to do, because it is home, and was a good home filled with good memories all her life. She went out and did what she had to do, and when she finished, she came home where she loves to be.

Dr. Artis Lovelady Hopkins has three children and six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Douglas P. Hopkins is a High School Counselor in El Paso, Texas, Russell O. Hopkins is an Engineer in Escolon, California, and daughter, Mavia L. Dicochea is a Police Officer in Freemont, California.

Dr. Hopkins and I had a wonderful time writing this article together Saturday, Feb. 22, 2003. She was so excited and overjoyed at the thought of an article about her being printed in a Christian paper. She was so proud to tell of her children, grand children and great-grandchildren; her brothers and sisters, Momma and she wanted it especially mentioned she was named after her Daddy.

Dr. Artis Lovelady Hopkins passed away Tuesday, February 25, 2003. We are going to miss her very much. As the title says, The LOVE was in the LADY.