Nellie Ruth was born in St. George, South Carolina on April 20, 1942, the youngest child of the late Willie Hopkins and Ossie Smith Hopkins. She transitioned on Monday, January 23, 2023, at Rapha Residential Care, Gaston, South Carolina.

Nellie was educated in the Public Schools of Dorchester County and graduated from Williams Memorial High School - the Class of 1960. After graduation she moved to New York and began working for New York Tell (AT&T) for many years. She also worked for New York Transit Authority. In 1991 she relocated back to St. George, SC.

At an early age Nellie joined St. Mark Baptist Church, where she accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior. After relocating back to St. George, SC., she affiliated herself with New Hope A.M.E. Church so that she could serve the Lord along with her husband at New Hope. She enjoyed serving the Lord and always praising God.

Nellie was joined in holy matrimony to the late Willie Risher, Sr., on October 27, 1960, and to this union they were blessed with four children: Gwendolyn, Michelle, Willie Jr., and Tieysha.

Preceding her in death are her parents - Willie Hopkins and Ossie Smith Hopkins; her husband - Willie Risher; daughter - Gwendolyn (Cookie) Risher; siblings - William Edward (Isabelle) Hopkins, Alice (Leo, Arthur) Haynes Gardner, Owens (Lue Bertha) Hopkins, Ernest (Margaret) Hopkins, Leroy Hopkins, James (Lizzie Mae) Hopkins, and Deacon Harold (Lizzie) Hopkins; sister-in-law- Geraldine (John) Moorer; and brother- in-law- Ronald Pinckney.

Nellie leaves to cherish her fond memories: two daughters - Michelle Risher, Brooklyn, NY., and Tieysha Risher, Orangeburg, SC.; one son-Willie Risher, Jr., New York, NY.; two grands­ Travis Risher, Columbia, SC., and William Hopkins, Brooklyn, NY.; one great grand-Ticah Risher, Columbia, SC.; sisters-in-law-Dorothy Hopkins, Lucille Britt, Mary Alice Primus and Donita Pinckney, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, extended family members and friends.