Rev. Janet Hopkins

The Rev. Janet Sue Hopkins, 77, formerly of Burfordville, passed away Tuesday, March 19, 2024, at the home she and Leo shared near Advance.

She was born Feb. 5, 1947, to Clyde and Winifred “Winnie” Golden Sides. Janet attended Jackson High School.

She and Terry Hopkins were married Aug. 21, 1970, and they shared a wonderful life. They owned and operated a cattle farm near Burfordville, raising show cattle and commercial cattle, and owned and operated the Little Ole Opry and Campground near Burfordville, until Terry’s passing Dec. 23, 2020. For years, folks enjoyed friendship and entertainment at the Opry and Campground.

Janet always enjoyed working and learning. She always had a heart for the elderly and U.S. veterans, and as she worked to complete her formal education, she focused on gerontology. She worked 19 years at Lutheran Home and 10 years at Missouri Veterans Home, both in Cape Girardeau. She took classes at Southeast Missouri State University and University of Missouri-Columbia to become a therapeutic-recreation director, and also attended St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City and Hendrix College in Arkansas. She ministered locally for more than 40 years in United Methodist churches throughout the counties of Cape Girardeau, Bollinger and Wayne.

Janet was community-minded, serving as president of the PTA and holding various offices in University of Missouri Extension. When asked to sum up her life, she replied, “Much of my life was in service to others. I was devoted to my son and grandchildren. I understand why God gave his only Son that we might have eternal life, because I certainly would have laid down my life for my son and grandchildren.” Janet received a humanitarian award and always kept it on her wall. With a positive attitude and a message of hope, she challenged herself to meet new people, in hopes that their life might be a little bit better after meeting her.

In 2022, God joined Janet and Leo Adams in marriage. During their brief time together, they enjoyed traveling extensively. Illness struck Janet in February while they were traveling in Florida.

Loving survivors are her spouse, Leo Adams of Advance; and her family, including son, John (Jackie) Hopkins of Burfordville; grandchildren, Matthew (Melanie) Hopkins of St. James, Jesse (Nacole) Hopkins of Burfordville and Abby Hopkins of Jackson; great-grandchildren, John, Jackie, Zoie, Colton, Olivia, Aiden, Ethan and Owen; siblings, Mike (late Margaret) Sides of Jackson, Kenny (Dorothy) Sides of Oak Ridge and Lesa (Wayne) Brotherton of Millersville; brother-in-law, Ron (late Sheila) Hecht of Jackson; and cousins, nieces, nephews and great-nieces and -nephews.

Terry’s surviving family includes his sisters, Dianna Caramico and Delores Poulos, both of Palatine, Illinois; a sister-in-law, Helen (late Ora Lee) Hopkins of Burfordville; and cousins, nieces, nephews and great-nieces and -nephews.

Janet was preceded in death by her husband, Terry Hopkins; parents, Clyde and Winnie Sides; two siblings, Sheila Hecht and Deanna Meehan; Terry’s parents, Noah and Beulah Hopkins; and his brothers, Harold Gene Hopkins and Ora Lee Hopkins.

Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to service time Friday, March 22, at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

Pastor Ann Mowery will conduct the funeral at 2 p.m. Friday, March 22, at the funeral home. Interment will follow at Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson.

If considering a memorial, the family suggests St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Millersville Methodist Church.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by clicking on the tribute wall tab above Janet’s obituary article at www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.