YVETTEYVONNE (HOPP) MATTHEWS,was born in Baltimore, Maryland on November16, 1948.She was the daughter of the late William Hopp and Dorothy (Whitaker) Hopp.

Yvette, affectionately knownas"Tillie," was born and raised in the Cherry Hill community in Baltimore, Maryland. She was educated in the Baltimore City Public School Systemand was a Proud Class of1965Dove from Western Senior High School. She received a Bachelor of Science degree inEarly Childhood Education from Coppin State College in 1971. While teachingsecondgrade at Homewood Elementary School #74, Yvette began her study of vocal music with Dr.A.Maurice Murphy who becamea lifelongfriend of over 40 years. She served as the Director of a Head Start Center on AshlandAvenue inthe heartof the city for many years before dedicating the next two decades of her life to homing her craft of song.

Yvette had a beautiful mezzo sopranovoice.Under the tutelage of Dr. Murphy, she won and placedin several local vocal competitions. Yvette received recognitionasa recitalist and soloist inthe Baltimore/Washingtonarea. Sheperfonned with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, The BaltimoreChoralArtsSociety, The Southern Maryland ChoralArtsSociety and the Baltimore Opera Company.Soon after, Yvette began the adventure of a lifetime! For three seasons, Yvette toured the UnitedStates,Canada, Europe and Japan withtheHouston Grand Opera Company. She counted as the highlight ofhercareer32perfomances attheMetropolitan Opera in New York City, and16performances atLa ScalainMilan, Italy. Over the years, these experiences ledtoforever friends who became extendedfamily.

Also, asa result ofDr.Murphy's instruction, Yvette was skilled in foreign language, mostnotably German,FrenchandItalian. Yvettewaspassionate about music, dance and the arts. The only thingthat cametomean as much to her washer Roland Park Country School family. Yvette joined the RolandPark family2000. Asthe Doctor of the after-care program for the middle school, she helped nurturethe young girlstherebysupporting them academically and socially to ensure their future success.She loved those girls and wasa dedicated Roland Park Country School employee until her passing on May6, 2020.

Anyonewho knew Yvette knows that she was a child of God-a woman of great faith! She has alwaysmaintaineda very strong, personal relationship with Christ. She grew up inSt.VeronicaCatholicChurch, raisedherchildrenat St.James episcopal Church and in recent years, became a member ofBrownMemorialPark Avenue Presbyterian Church. Their choir lofts became her secondhome! Her fellowchoir memberswerelifelong friends.

Yvette's husband of 36 years,NolanE.Matthews, preceded herindeath.Yvette was the proud mother of twodaughters, MelanieD.Matthews-Mack and TiffanyJ.Matthews-Lay,and sons-in-law,Andre L Mack.and Dorrell C. Lay. She truly loved her grandchildren, Erin A. Mack, Cameron I. Mack, and Nasir I. Lay. Yvette had two brothers who preceded her in death: Dwayne Robinson and Anthony Hopples. She is survived by four siblings: Maria (Hopp) Hamptone, Donna (Hopp) Curtis, James Howard and Ralph Howard, several nieces and nephews, and many, many, family members and friends whose lives she touched over the years, and who loved her dearly.