Martha Hopper DeLoatch, 75,

 passed away on Thursday, January 5, 2012

 at Davis Health Care Center in Wilmington, NC. 

A native of Cleveland Countyshe was the daughter of the late

Frank and Odessa Patterson Hopper of Patterson Springs.

She was also preceded in death by her husband Bobby DeLoatch and sister

 Peggy Hopper Crowder. Mrs. DeLoatch resided in Shelby until 2011 when she

 moved to Wilmington to be closer to her niece. She retired from Cleveland County

 Schools where she was a Teacher Assistant at Number Three Township School.

Mrs. DeLoatch is survived by her niece, Cara Crowder Harriman and husband Scott of Wilmington, NC; her great nephew and great niece whom she considered her grandchildren, Connor and Holly Harriman of Wilmington, NC; her best friends, Mary Helen Davis and Brenda Sharts; a cousin Glenda Patterson McKinney and a special great aunt Ethel Patterson.

A celebration of life service will be held at 11:00am on Saturday, January 7, 2012 at New Hope Baptist Church in Earl, NC.  The Rev. Russ Bradley will be officiating.  Burial will follow at Cleveland Memorial Park.  The family will receive friends from 10:30 – 11:00am prior to the service.

Martha was a true dog lover and the family is asking all donations be made to Cleveland County Humane Society, Inc. 1609 E. Marion St. Shelby NC 28150. Condolences may be sent to:Cara Harriman, 7423 Poseidon Point, Wilmington, NC 28411.