Florabelle Perkins

Celebrating Her Life's Journey FLORABELLE H. PERKINS, aged 98, transitioned peacefully at 6:45 am on Thursday, September 19, 2024, in Elkridge, MD. Her life's journey began at 2:40 pm on Friday, April 2, 1926 in Grays Inn, MD. She was born to the late Oscar C. Hicks (1899-1990) and Ethel L. Rochester-Hicks (1902-2004) and was the fifth oldest of fifteen (15) children. She was known to family and friends as Hudder, Mom, Sistah, Ma, Mom Florabelle, Dear, Aunt Florabelle and Princess. As a child, she walked from Grays Inn to Sharptown, MD every day to attend elementary school and graduated from Garnet High School in 11th grade. She immediately began to take charge of her life's journey by legally changing her name from Flora Obell Hicks to Florabelle Hicks when she was 18 years old. She furthered her education by enrolling in a mail order business class since she was not allowed to attend college. FLORABELLE dedicated her life to serving her community and nurturing her loved ones. She was a devout member of Aaron Chapel United Methodist Church in Sharptown, MD where she actively participated in church activities asthe Board Chairman of the Social Concerns Committee, Secretary of the Trustee board and a member of the Women's Society. Her faith was the cornerstone of her life, as evidenced by her service to the Lord, her family, and community outreach. She enjoyed reading and listening to the Bible, quilting, crocheting, crafting, canning, writing letters, decorating for every holiday, sitting outside, and creating new dishes to name a few. She took pride in having one of the most beautiful flower gardens on Edesville Road. She loved to cook and bake and willingly shared her recipes. When asked what job she would like to do if able, her response was always, "I would love to be a cook". FLORABELLE was applauded for making life better for others. Throughout the 1970s, Florabelle was instrumental as the Community Action Center Director for the Summer Enrichment program at the Rock Hall Civic Center and the Masonic Lodge Hall in Sharptown, MD that was funded by the Federal Office of Economic Opportunity. She started the first Black 4-H Club in Kent County, organized a homemakers club, founded and developed the first recycling program in Kent County, organized the Rock Hall Senior Citizens group, conducted the survey for the first Head Start Program in Rock Hall and recruited students for the Job Corp special training program. She founded the Neighborhood Improvement Association (N.I.A.) and began petitioning the government in 1976 to get public water and sewer service in Edesville. Although the project took 16 years (1992) to complete, she did not give up the fight. She believed that all things were possible and her community deserved better. She was the President of the Rock Hall and Goosehill Homemakers Club, Co-chairman of the Kent Ecology Organization (KEO) Committee, and was employed as the Sr. Field Aide for Kent & Queen Anne's Talbot Area Council of the Kent County Extension Service (University of MD), the head cook for Hubbard’s Seafood Restaurant, an aide at Washington College, kitchen aide at Kent & Queen Anne's Hospital and an aide for Kent County Senior Citizens before finally retiring in 1981. FLORABELLE received the Humanitarian Award at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration in 2002 for "dedicating her life to making life better for others". Her commitment to the community and her passion for helping the less fortunate were hallmarks of her character. Her life was a testament to her loving, kind, and giving nature, always concerned about others and rarely complaining. Her legacy of kindness and dedication to her community will be cherished and remembered by all who knew her. She believed in families always helping each other. Her words of wisdom - Do not get old! She always knew how to stretch a dollar. She could take $1 with her to California and still come back with change. She could often be heard saying, Do not put off until tomorrow those things that can be done today. If she had more time, she would tell you that she always wanted to plan an "everybody's birthday celebration" for the Hicks family, create a cookbook and start a woman's group inviting them into her home to chat and chew. She believed in the golden rule, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" and if you said, "I love you", her immediate response was always, and "I love you more"! FLORABELLE was preceded in death by her son, William "Roger" Hopkins; husbands, James A. Perkins, Thomas W. Brown, and William T. Hopkins; brothers, Clarence, Robert, Oliver, Norris, and Donald Hicks; and sisters, Mary and Nanny Hicks, Doris Brown, Carrie Bethea, Dorothy Iverson, and Nora Wright. She leaves to cherish her memories; children, Patricia Alexander (Roland) of Columbia, MD, Thomas Hopkins of Hughesville, MD and Linda Hopkins of Laurel, MD; daughter-in-law, Joyce Hopkins of Chestertown, MD; brothers, Ernest (Regina) of Smyrna, DE; Melvin (Annie) of Reynoldsburg, OH; sister, Loretta Freeman of Rock Hall, MD; 5-grandchildren, Ronnell and Evetta Hopkins (Florabelle's girlfriend) of Chestertown, MD, Dwayne Hopkins (Dana) of Dover, DE; Kamala (Rabin) Massey of Raleigh, NC; Tyrone (Essence) Hopkins of West Warwick, RI; 9-great-grandchildren; 7-great great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives and friends. Her life and legacy will continue to influence and inspire those who were fortunate to know her. She will be deeply missed yet forever remembered for her enduring contributions to her community and her unwavering spirit of giving. Lovingly submitted, The Family

Florabelle Perkins

April 2, 1926 - September 19, 2024