Mrs. Jody Smith Cullen, 70, passed away peacefully on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, on her farm in Painter. Born on Nov. 25, 1953, she was the beloved daughter of Herman Bud Smith Jr. and Jo Harley Smith.
Jody was blessed with an artistic gift in a multitude of media. She could paint, create realistic pen-and-ink drawings, and orchestrate beautiful hymns on the piano. A consummate animal lover, Jody always kept pets. She loved horses the most, but also had many ball pythons, baby raccoons, and almost enough chihuahuas to start a baseball team.
It was at Central High School that Jody found the love of her life. Mark Lewis Hopkins and Jody were high school sweethearts. They had just the type of love that everyone desired: They were romantic best friends and soulmates. Jody went to Virginia Wesleyan and the two married shortly after college. They lived in a small cabin out in Christiansburg before returning to the Eastern Shore with their first son, Matthew, in tow.
She taught elementary school and before long, their second son, Adam, was born, and then a little girl, Sarah. They raised their family in a Christian household. Jody learned to bake during those early years of marriage, and her rum cakes, pound cakes, and cookies tasted so good it would make you want to smack your mama.
Jody taught in the Accomack County school system until retirement. She started at Accomac Primary School and then Accawmacke Elementary School. She adored her students, and they adored her right back. Never one to let a child go without, she would secretly find a way to give her less-fortunate students warm clothes or an occasional snack.
Her service to the Lord led her to join Belle Haven United Methodist Church. She played the piano at Belle Haven UMC and at Craddockville UMC. Jody was the director of the Christmas Cantata and chair of the Nurture, Outreach, and Witness (NOW) Committee.
When she wasn’t riding horses, volunteering with the Salvation Army, or playing piano, she could be found rooting for her beloved New York Yankees or watching college basketball — Go, Tar Heels! She adored spending time with her husband and three children. They were her whole world.
Her whole world came to a sudden halt when her beautiful little girl, Sarah, died at age 16. The devastation was immense, but she kept her faith in God. She and Mark shared eight more years together, until his passing in 2012.
Jody is survived by her sons, Matthew Lewis Hopkins and his wife, Wendy Michelle Hopkins, of Elizabeth City, N.C., and Adam Smith Hopkins and his wife, Deanna Joy Hopkins, of Bloxom; her grandchildren, Madalynn Marie Hopkins, Jacob Lewis Hopkins, and Sadie Joy Hopkins; and many dear church friends and extended family.
Jody was predeceased by her parents, Herman and Jo Smith; her brother, Jonathan Winthrop Smith; her beloved husband and best friend, Mark Lewis Hopkins; and her beautiful daughter, Sarah Gardner Hopkins. The family takes comfort in knowing that Mark, Sarah, and Jody are joyfully reunited in heaven.
A graveside memorial service for Jody will be conducted Friday, Nov. 8, at 1 p.m., at Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Onancock, with the Rev. Annette Northan-Austin officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Belle Haven United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 37, Belle Haven, VA 23306, or to the Eastern Shore SPCA, P.O. Box 164, Onley, VA 23418, http://www.shorespca.com Memory tributes may be shared with the family at
www.williamsfuneralhomes.com
Arrangements are by the Williams-Onancock Funeral Home.
