Obituary of William Burdett Shope Jr ~ Hilda Gray Maness Shope .

William Burdett Shope Jr. 1936-2023

Hilda Gray Maness Shope 1937-2023

            William Burdett Shope (Bill) and Hilda Gray Maness Shope went to be with our Lord and Savior on Wednesday, April 5, 2023. Bill met Hilda, the love of his life in Greensboro, North Carolina while in college. They were married for 64 years and loved each other dearly.

            Bill was the oldest of four children, born to William Burdett Sr. and Juanita Miller Shope, June 23, 1936, in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He was preceded in death by his loving parents. Bill was a graduate of Guilford College where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology. After graduating, he sold insurance and started a family with his beautiful wife Hilda. In 1963 he moved to Charlotte N.C., where he went to work for Westinghouse in outside sales, a company that he devoted more than twenty years to. Bill also spent several years working as a store manager at Eckerd Drugs. He eventually ended his career selling real estate. Following retirement, he and Hilda moved to Tucson, Arizona in 1997. Bill enjoyed all sports; he loved UNC-Chapel Hill basketball and Carolina Panther NFL football. He was a loving father to his two sons, David and John, and to his grandchildren, Jennifer, Stephen, Brandon, Kaylee and step granddaughter Jillian. Bill was also blessed to have four great-grandchildren; Emily, Luke, Luna and Hallie Jean.

            Hilda Maness Shope was born July 29, 1937, in Robbins, North Carolina, to John Carson Maness and Era Mae Purvis Maness. She was preceded in death by her wonderful parents. Hilda grew up in Red Springs, N.C., where she attended Red Springs High School. She excelled in basketball, and was Valedictorian of her class. Hilda attended Greensboro Women’s College, where she received her Bachelors of Education Degree and ranked number two in her graduating class. She went on to enroll in Winthrop University where she received her Master’s Degree. Hilda was an elementary school teacher in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school system for more than 35 years. Hilda impacted many lives over the years and ended her career in 1997 as principal of Elizabeth Traditional School. She was a wonderful cook, gardener, competitive bridge player, and loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Hilda never met a stranger; she always had a cheerful spirit that could light up your day.

           Bill and Hilda were a devoted couple of the Christian Faith. They loved their church family dearly. Their neighbors called Hilda the neighborhood ministry. She loved to witness to people and spread the gospel, so that all of those around her would come to know Jesus Christ.

           Bill and Hilda are survived by his three sisters, Judy Scanlon (Jim), Bogart, GA, Pam Lunsford (Danny), of Lawrenceville, GA, Jill Patton (Jay), of Alameda, CA, their sons David (Jan), of Matthews, NC, and John (Renee’), of Leland NC, grandchildren, Jennifer Myatt (Jerry), of Charlotte, NC, Stephen Shope (Yukino), of Charlotte, NC, Brandon Shope (Cassie), of Wilmington, NC, Kaylee Moore (Johnny), of Leland, NC, step granddaughter Jillian Ledford (Joseph) of Charlotte, NC, and four great grandchildren, Emily Myatt, Luke Shope, Luna Shope and Hallie Moore.

            The Memorial Service will take place at Grace Baptist Church, in Wilmington, NC, on June 3, 2023, at 3:00pm.