Fletcher Mae Gilliam Hopson-Bazemore died on Friday, November 20, 2020, in Gilbert, AZ at the age of 95. Born Friday, June 5, 1925 in Windsor, NC, to Claudia Christiana (Wilder) and Lewis Robert Gilliam, “Fletch” was the second of four daughters.

The death of their father at the start of the 1929 Great Depression, also brought on the absence of their mother when she was forced to move to Philadelphia PA where relatives could help her find employment in order to support her daughters. Fletch was four years old.

Fletch and her sisters lived and were raised by their maternal grandmother Nancy Wilder and their uncle Kenny Wilder, until her grandmother’s failing health required their mother’s return.

Graduating as class Salutatorian of CG White High School in Powellsville, NC, Fletch went on to attend Shaw University an HBCU (Historically Black College/University), founded December 1865 in Raleigh, NC. There she’d eventually meet a U.S. Marine, James Wallace Hopson, stationed at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, during a school dance. Following her graduation from Shaw, in May 1945, Fletch was employed as an English and History teacher with the Cumberland County Department of Education in Fayetteville, NC for two years.

In August 1948, Fletch married James, affectionately known as “Hoppy”-- “the marine who won my heart”--and moved to his hometown of Chicago, IL. Soon afterwards, she began employment with the Department of Public Aid as a social worker. With husband Hoppy, Fletch created a loving marriage enhanced by “Windy City” life and close friendships, many evolving into their forever “extended family.”

Fletch and Hoppy had two daughters, Sandra (Sandy) and Debra (Debbie). For the majority of their marriage, they lived and raised their daughters in Parkway Garden Homes, a cooperatively owned community on the south side of Chicago.

In the early 1960’s, Fletch and Hoppy opened Jetco Paint and Supply Co., fulfilling Hoppy’s dream of business ownership. Though continuing to work full-time, she contributed her time and energy to its success. The hardware store was a family affair with their daughters working alongside. The marriages of Sandy and Debbie expanded their family adding first, as Hoppy would declare, “two extraordinary sons-in-law,” Artie and Rufus, and soon, six adored grandchildren, increasing their initial union – from just two, to an even dozen. 

Fletch served for years on the Benevolence Committee at Parkway Garden Christian Church, and later in the Christian Women’s Fellowship at Park Manor Christian Church. She was active with the local chapter of her college sorority Zeta Phi Beta, her local Shaw Alumni group, and Sigma Shadows, a group for the wives of Phi Beta Sigma, Hoppy’s fraternity. She and friends started a monthly bridge club, the Smart Set, and mastered the skills of the game. She always enjoyed hosting club meetings and delighted in any opportunity to entertain and socialize. Senior line dancing, jointly completing crossword puzzles, a wine making club and more filled Fletch and Hoppy’s early empty nest years.

A natural caregiver, when early-onset dementia incapacitated her younger sister Claytee, Fletch became a surrogate mother to her nephew, Ronnie Moore, and subsequently his family, wife Lisa and children, Gianna, Joelle and Dylan. In the early 1990’s she retired as a supervising case worker and trainer after forty-one years with the “agency” to care for Hoppy. Hoppy died in June 1994. They were married almost forty-six years. Following his death, she volunteered with reading services for the blind and assisted a great many friends and family through illness. The addition of great-grandchildren, eventually eight in all, brought her years of delight.

While visiting her sisters in Portsmouth, VA, Fletch reconnected with a friend from high school, Lenwood R. Bazemore, who was also widowed. The two dated long distance and were married in 2002. Fletch relocated to Portsmouth joining Lenwood in his active community involvements, friendships, and time with both their families. A few years following their marriage, both Lenwood’s and Fletch’s “living with dementia” journey began. Sandy in Connecticut and Debbie in Arizona organized local senior care resources for them, and family and friends helped as they could. Eventually, safety and health challenges compelled their move to Arizona in 2011, and in 2012, they moved into a memory care community to fully meet their needs. Memory care enhanced their lives much more than anticipated. Lenwood died in May of 2013. 

Moving back into Debbie’s home, Fletch and Debbie began traveling to visit family and friends back east and in the mid-west. They received many visits from family and friends in Arizona as well. Fletch also spent time in Connecticut with Sandy and her family. She always found joy and was energized by people. Her caring and open heart touched and inspired a great many lives in her 95 years.  

Fletcher was predeceased by her brother, James Robert Harmon (Annie Marie) and her three sisters, Arnez Riddick (Charlie), Claytee Moore (James) and Eather Lewis Jenkins (Seclephas).

Fletcher is survived and her memory treasured by daughters and sons-in-law, Sandra Miller (Arthur), Debra Glasper (Rufus); grandchildren, Nicole Miller, Adam Miller, Dannan Glasper, Jason Miller (Damaris), Ryanne Glasper and Samuel Miller; great-grandchildren Kobie Adams, Jaylyn Glasper, Desiree Miller, Akeeva Forcier, Briana Miller, Shiloh Miller, Jordan Miller, and Isabel Gore; numerous nephews, nieces and cousins, Chicago family extensions and a host of other relatives and friends.

In lieu of cards, gifts or flowers, the family is encouraging contributions in her memory to her alma mater Shaw University. Click link for instructions here: Shaw University.