Hope Blanchard Christian

Annie Hope Blanchard Christian, “Granny Hop,” 97, of Raleigh passed away peacefully on the morning of December 30th, 2024. Very fittingly, her last full day on this earth was a Sunday - her favorite day of the week.

Hope was born in Hobbsville, NC on October 3rd, 1927 to Alvah and Marine Blanchard. In 1944, at the age of 16, she graduated from Gates County High School and left for Mars Hill College, followed by Carson-Newman College, where she received her Bachelor of Arts in 1948. After college, she worked at First Baptist Church, Galax, VA whereupon she felt the Lord leading her to pursue a Masters degree at Southern Seminary in Louisville, KY. While in seminary, she met the love of her life, Louis Gordon Christian, on a blind date in 1951. They married in 1952 and enjoyed 39 wonderful years together until his passing in 1991.

Hope’s greatest joy was serving her Lord Jesus Christ and helping others grow in their love for Him. As a teenager, she felt the call to Christian ministry and lived the rest of her life in response to that call through various roles. She served in youth ministry, college ministry, prison ministry, international ministry, “In-Crowd” ministry to homebound church members, and Rex Hospital chaplaincy. She enjoyed wonderful years in the 1970s and 80s as part of the Evangelism Staff of the North Carolina Baptist State Convention, and upon her retirement, she enjoyed leading various prayer retreats and seminars across North Carolina.

One of her greatest ministry gifts was that of playing the piano, having learned to play by ear when she was a young girl. Whether with college students gathered around the piano in her living room, surrounded by her family singing hymns or Christmas carols during the holidays, or at a nursing home sing-along in recent years, Hope’s gift of music lifted spirits wherever she played. In addition, Hope was a lifelong member of organized church choirs. At age 90, she finally gave herself permission to “retire” from the Forest Hills Baptist Church choir, after decades of faithful membership.

Hope was preceded in death by her parents, loving husband, Lou, and sister, Lois Blanchard Bullard. She is survived by her two children, Dan Christian (Robbin) and Carol Christian Allen (George), adopted son and daughter-in-law, Getachew and Abeba Giorgis, and five beloved granddaughters who dearly loved their “Granny Hop”: Laura Beth Christian Davidson (Andrew), Mary Kate Christian Deal (William), Anna Christian Allen, Mary Carr Allen Bentley (RJ), Sallie Allen Thompson (Alex), and seven great-grandchildren, Jane, Anne, Sarah and Alice Davidson, Adeline and Dorothy Deal, and George Thompson. She always said her greatest joy and “lifeline” were her grandchildren, for whom she prayed daily and encouraged through notes (typed on her typewriter) and frequent phone calls.

Hope’s family is deeply grateful for the kindness and compassion shown to her the last two years by her two faithful companions, Viviane Vovor and Dee Liggins, as well as the loving staff at Morningside and Hillcrest. We rejoice that she has now been welcomed home into the arms of her Savior. Hallelujah, her faith is now sight!

A celebration of Hope’s life and God’s faithfulness to her will be held on Sunday, January 5th, at 3:00 pm at Forest Hills Baptist Church, followed by a reception in the Gathering Place, where the family will receive friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Forest Hills Baptist Church at 201 Dixie Trail, Raleigh, NC 27607.