Bertha Louise Hope

Bertha Louise Hope

age 80 of North Chicago, Illinois passed away on Sunday, January 3, 2021 in North Aurora, Illinois. She was born April 14, 1940 in Thomaston, Alabama to Lillie Isephine and Sam Hope.  There she lived until approximately age 16. As a child, she loved to play basketball; she was on her school basketball team. She always talked of her joy of the game.  Bertha left school in Alabama and traveled north to Illinois to stay with family and help care for her cousins, after her uncle suffered a serious accident.  Bertha had many occupations as a young woman, from operating elevators to retail and later as factory laborer.  At one of these early jobs, in a department store, she met her husband of more than 24 years, Roy Knox.  They married March 12, 1966, and she was a devoted wife and mother.  Bertha's priority was to provide for her family and create a safe and happy home. She lovingly mothered and raised three children, Renita Dercel Davis, Roy Christopher Knox, and stepdaughter, Melissa O’Neal, whom she loved as one of her own. 

Bertha accepted Christ as her personal Savior and was baptized at the age of 12 at the Glover Baptist Church in Thomaston, Alabama. Her faith in God continued to be the beacon in her life’s journey, with her most recent fellowship at Harvest Bible Chapel in Rolling Meadows, IL.  Bertha always demonstrated compassion for others. From family, to the mothers in church, she was always finding ways to help others. Bertha enjoyed the finer things in life, but most precious to her was her love for Christ, her family, especially her grandchildren and her friends. Bertha's giving spirit, grace and style will always be her legacy.

She is preceded in death by mother, Lillie Isephine Rucker; father, Sam Hope; step-father, Wade Rucker; sisters: Shirley Hope and Deborah Cagle; aunts: Willie Mae Coleman and Dorothy “Dot” (Matthew) Glover; uncles: Lawrence Coleman, William (Hazel) Coleman; and Jerry Coleman; grandmother, Adeline Coleman loving referred to as “momma” and grandfather, William Cade referred to as “papa” and a great-grandmother, Mama Lou Coleman.

She is survived by her loving children Renita Dercel (Richard) Davis and Roy Christopher (Laurice Renee) Knox; stepdaughter Melissa (Terry) O’Neal; extended son/nephew Malkin (Angela) Hope; one brother Curtis Hope; two sisters Dorothy (Frank) Duncan and Eddie Mae Hope. Six grandchildren, Denae Myshelle Davis, Richard Alan Christopher Davis, Logan Christopher Knox, Leslie Christine Knox, Shontal O’Neal and Terry O’Neal; and a host of deeply loved nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends. 

​Visitation Monday, January 11, 2021 from 10:00 A.M. until time of funeral service at 11:00 A.M. at the Seguin & Symonds Funeral Home, 858 Sheridan Road, Highwood. Rev. Ramirez Moody of Harvest Bible Chapel, Rolling Meadows, Illinois officiating. Interment will follow at North Shore Garden of Memories, North Chicago, Illinois.

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