Mary Hopper

1941 - 2025

Mary Hopper, long time civic leader, women's advocate and promoter of all things Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, died in Charlotte on September 18, 2025. Mary succumbed to a malignant brain tumor, ending a 13 year battle with three (3) kinds of cancer. Mary faced that battle with courage, grace, humor and the tireless support of her many best friends, best doctors, and what Mary said was the best medical assistance available in America. Typical of her sometimes dark humor when describing to her brother the likelihood of which of the 3 kinds of cancer was soon to take her life (not the deadly Merkel cell carcinoma which she had for 13 years) she stated that "at least I beat Jimmy Buffet." Buffett died from Merkel in 2023.

Mary's 58 year love affair with the City of Charlotte began in 1967 when she arrived with her recently awarded PhD from the University of Missouri to be an Assistant Professor of Spanish and Spanish American literature at Queens College. While at Queens she served as President of the Faculty Club and on the Board of the American Association of University Professors.

Mary worked as director of public relations for the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County making media appearances, planning and executing promotions. She later worked as the director of communications of the Charlotte Convention and Visitors Bureau.

From 2003 to 2013 Mary served as Executive Director of University City Partners. There she was instrumental in bringing new investments and job growth. It was reported that in a 3 year period more than 2,500 new jobs and 2.5 million square feet of new office activity were added to the area.

From 1987 to 2008 Mary was President of Hopper Communications where she worked on such diverse projects as crisis management, strategic communications, speech writing and marketing. She acted as consultant to the trolley and 2025 Transit Land Use Plan.

Mary served the community for eight (8) years on the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Planning Commission where she was chair for her final two years. As a member of the Charlotte Civil Service Commission, Mary reviewed police and fire applicants and participated in hearings concerning police officers and fire personnel.

Mary's civic involvement was not limited to local activities. She served on the national boards of the Women's Political Caucus, Women in Communication and was a delegate to the 1984 Democratic National Convention. She was on the board of the North Carolina Zoo, Chairwoman of the North Carolina Women's Political Caucus and was on the board of the North Carolina Center for Public Policy Research for 15 years.

Mary adored her community of Dilworth and the many wonderful friends she made among her neighbors. She twice served as President of the Dilworth Community Association (formerly DCDA). She was truly the best sister, sister-in-law and aunt one could have. She loved her cats with such names as Chaka Khan, Bo Didley and Ruth Bader. She was proud of her many awards for civic engagement, always quick to volunteer and to help plan charity events.

Found on Mary's computer were the words "My Obit-She lived, defied logic and convention, luckily had good friends and a nice family, left us. Let's drink." A gathering to accommodate Mary's suggestion and to honor her memory as well will take place at a date to be determined.

Mary was raised in Albany, Georgia, graduated from Georgia State University, received her Masters and PhD degrees from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She was the daughter of James Ellsworth Cagle and Shelley Daniel Cagle. Mary is survived by one brother, James McCall Cagle and wife Nancy of Charleston, West Virginia, nieces Sara Cagle of Portland, Oregon and McCall Cade of Barrington, Illinois, nephew Daniel Cagle of Charleston, West Virginia. She is also survived by Madena Pagdon of Atlanta, Georgia. It was Madena who provided Mary much care and good health in her last years of life. Mary was the widow of her beloved Leslie (Les) Parker of Charlotte who died in 1998.