Mary Sloop

Mary H. Sloop VIRGINIA BEACH - Mary Mildred Hill Sloop, 82, passed away Oct. 8, 2008, after a courageous battle with cancer. Mrs. Sloop was born March 2, 1926 in Mount Airy, N.C. She was preceded in death by her husband, Max W. Sloop and her parents, Andrew Eugene Hill and Susan Lawrence Hill of Mount Airy, N.C. She graduated from Beulah High School in Surry County, North Carolina, where she played basketball for four years and was the Surry County high-jump champion for two years. She attended Appalachian State University from 1943 to 1947, where she was a member of the basketball team, the swimming club and the college athletics club, the "A" club. After college, Mrs. Sloop taught and coached girl's basketball at Sedge Garden, N.C., worked as a recreation director for the city of Winston-Salem, N.C., and taught at Kernersville, N.C. She later taught in Norfolk and Mooresville, N.C., then returned and retired as a teacher in the Norfolk city schools. She was a lifetime member of the National Education Association and was a charter member of Hope Lutheran Church in Virginia Beach. She taught Sunday school at this church, was an active member of the Lutheran Women's Missionary League, and held several offices in that organization. She also served on the school board at Hope Lutheran School. She is survived by her daughter, Carolyn Sloop and son-in-law John Fields of Decatur, Ga.; and sons, Max W. Sloop Jr. and daughter-in-law Jeannie Sloop of Virginia Beach and Brian Sloop and fiancée Paula Kitchen of Suffolk. She had four grandsons, Kristopher, Jacob, Johnathan and Clay, all from Virginia Beach. She is also survived by one brother, Robert F. Hill and sister-in-law Elizabeth C. Hill of Asheville, N.C.; and a sister-in-law, Doris Knorr Hill of Ellicott City, Md. She was predeceased by two brothers, Thomas O. Hill formerly of Potomac Heights, Md., and Eugene R. Hill formerly of Ellicott City; and sister-in-law, Mary York Hill formerly of Potomac Heights. A graveside service will be held today with interment in Woodlawn Memorial Gardens in Virginia Beach. A memorial service will be held at Hope Lutheran Church, 5350 Providence Road, Virginia Beach, on Saturday at 11 a.m. Smith & Williams Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hope Lutheran Church, 5350 Providence Road, Virginia Beach. You may visit Mrs. Sloop's memorial at www.mem.com and send tributes to the family.