ABINGDON, VA. - Faith Evangeline Newton Hobson, 96, died peacefully at English Meadows Senior Living in Abingdon, Virginia, her home for the past three years, on October 1, 2018.
Born January 20, 1922 in Central, S.C., Faith was the thirteenth of fourteen children of Franklin "Doc" Miles Newton and Alma Zalula Nalley Newton.
In addition to her parents, Faith was preceded in death by her husband of 61 ½ years, Marion Wallace Hobson, and her 12 older siblings: "Lena", Ina, "Ja", "Tom", "Sam", Isaac, Ethel, Bula, Clarke, "Mac", Cleo, and "Nate".
Faith moved to Tuscaloosa in 1942 after finishing Central Wesleyan Methodist Academy. She began studies at the University of Alabama earning her BS, MA (1955), and Class AA certification. Faith taught in Mississippi and the Tuscaloosa County public school system and was principal at Elrod Elementary. She joined the Tuscaloosa City school system in 1951, teaching at Jemison School for 12 years, Alberta Elementary for 7 years, and as Principal at Oakdale Elementary (1970-1981). She retired as a Supervisor of Early Childhood Education in the City school system in 1983.
Faith and Wallace traveled all over the United States for conferences and continuing education meetings. International travel brought great joy and the opportunity to continue learning about the world, but there were no places as special to her as Central, S.C. and her beloved University of Alabama.
Always active in the community, Faith served on numerous educational committees including past president of Tuscaloosa Teachers Association. She was a member of Beta Chi Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma and Kappa Delta Pi. Faith treasured all of her neighbors from Greensboro Avenue, to Northwood Lake, and Richmond Place.
A faithful member of Tuscaloosa First Wesleyan Church, Faith served as a Sunday school teacher, sang joyfully with the choirs, devoted a significant amount of her time after retirement to the Preschool, and cherished her friends in the "Best Years Fellowship." She considered being named "Donkey Queen" in 2004 a great honor from her church family. Faith attended Emory United Methodist Church during her three years in Virginia.
She is survived by her younger brother, David Timothy Newton (Marie) of Fayetteville, N.C.; twenty nieces and nephews including Walter Dean (Joanne) of Tuscaloosa, Ala.; a host of great and great-great nieces and nephews including her most recent caregiver, Susan Moss Stanley (Tal), Emory, Va.. There are thousands of students who learned with "Homework Hobson." Faith used every means she had to offer encouragement to the world, including her perfected recipe for peanut brittle.
The Newton-Hobson Chapel and Fine Arts Center on the Southern Wesleyan University campus in Central, S.C., named in Faith's honor in October 2008, will be the location for a service celebrating her life on November 10, 2018 at 10 a.m. A private interment will be held at Tuscaloosa Memorial Park.
Faith was a generous benefactor to many during her lifetime. Her wishes were for memorial contributions to be made to Southern Wesleyan University, PO Box 1020, Central, SC 29630 or a charity of one's choice.