William Sylvester "Butter" Hopewell

William Sylvester Hopewell affectionately known as “Butter”” was born on December 12, 1948 in Westmoreland County, VA to the late Irving Howard Lucas and Gladys Hopewell. He received his education from the Westmoreland County public schools in Westmoreland County VA. Sylvester accepted Christ at an early age, and became a member of Macedonia Baptist Church, Colonial Beach, VA, where he remained a faithful and dedicated member until his departure. He served as a trustee, usher, head custodian and even drove the church van on many occasions for evening programs.

Sylvester served in the US Army in the early 1970’s. He retired from Naval Surface Warfare Center in Dahlgren, VA. In his days of retirement he went on to work for Colonial Beach Dragway under Leo and Richard Clark, King George Well Drilling, and Colonial Beach Transit.

He was a devoted father, grandfather and friend. “Butter” enjoyed fishing, cookouts, NHRA drag racing and watching his favorite TV shows: Animal Planet, HGTV, National Geographic and The Three Stooges. He loved entertaining family and friends. Back in the day many would gather at his garage playing pool, cards, eating a burger. Laughing and just having a good old funky time. That’s what he loved. He loved telling jokes and known for making people laugh and leaving you with a cliché “stick a fork in it” or “everything is chicken but the bill”. He was full of wisdom and family history. Some of his favorite foods he enjoyed was a New York strip, crab cakes, fried chicken, meatballs, baked potatoes and cheesecake. And his favorite restaurants were Golden Corral and Great American Buffet.

He had a humble spirit, kind hearted, a great person to be around. The impact he had on people is indescribable. He was better to everyone else than he was to himself.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Irving Howard and Gladys Shelton; his twin brothers, Lloyd and Floyd Lucas; his sisters Zina and Yvette Shelton.
 
He leaves to cherish fond memories: one daughter, Lisa Thompson (Tony); one grandson, Tony Thompson, Jr. (Heather); Two sisters, Lavern Turner and Dorothy Weldon (Fredericksburg, VA); one brother, Dale Shelton, Jr. (WV); two grandchildren, Adrian and Malayah Thompson; two aunts, Nilene Dickerson and Waverly Beverly; one uncle, Charles Hopewell; And a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

He leaves behind special people that he talked to every other day: Preston McDowney, Tony Bushrod, Alvin Campbell, Lillian Hopewell and Wendell Hopewell

A Service of Remembrance for William Sylvester "Butter" Hopewell of Colonial Beach, Virginia will be held on Wednesday, April 13, 2022, at 12 Noon in the sanctuary of the Macedonia Baptist Church, 1081 Macedonia Lane, Colonial Beach, Virginia.

Interment will be in the Macedonia Baptist Church Cemetery.

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