Carl “Hoppy” Edward Langley, III, died November 28, 2020 at Baptist Memorial Hospital North-Mississippi in Oxford. The service will be held Saturday, December, 12, 2020 at 1:00 P.M. in the Chapel of Waller Funeral Home with Rev. Bob Curtis officiating. The visitation will be held prior to the service in West Hall at Waller Funeral Home beginning at 10:00 A.M. Burial will follow in Oxford Memorial Cemetery.
Hoppy was born on January 30, 1958, in Aiken, South Carolina, the son of Carl Edward Langley Jr. and Norma Louise Collins Langley. Hoppy’s father was the Editor of the Augusta Chronicle Herald and enjoyed a distinguished career in the newspaper industry.
Hoppy was a natural athlete from childhood; excelling in both football and basketball. In his senior year in high school in Aiken, Hoppy was the Quarterback and Field Goal Kicker for the football team while also lettering in basketball.
Hoppy’s life changed forever in 1976, when Ole Miss head football Coach Ken Cooper, traveled to Aiken to see Hoppy audition. Because of the time of year and the limited amount of daylight, the community had lit the football field in order for Hoppy to be able to see the goalposts. Following Hoppy’s successful tryout, the town grocer in Aiken flew Hoppy and his high school football coach to Oxford for the official signing.
On September 11, 1976, Hoppy Langley etched his name in Ole Miss Football history when he made the winning field goal in Jackson, MS to defeat Alabama 10-7 and end Alabama’s 20 game conference streak dating all the way back to 1972. What was important to Hoppy regarding Alabama is that the Tide would finish second in the national polling in 1977 and in both 1978 and 79, win the national championship although, Ole Miss was not on their schedule either year. Upon Hoppy’s graduation in 1980, he was the leading all-time scorer in Ole Miss history.
Following Hoppy’s successful career at Ole Miss, he entered the business world with his first job opportunities originating in Memphis, TN. There in the summer of 1981 at Bellevue Baptist’s Sunday School, Hoppy met his future wife, Stephanie Lee Walker. Ironically, Stephanie is a graduate of the University of Alabama, and they married in July of 1983.
In 1983, Hoppy entered the pharmaceutical field, being offered a position with Stuart Pharmaceuticals in sales (of all places), Tuscaloosa, AL, where the newlyweds lived for four years.
In 1987, the young couple relocated to St. Louis, MO as Hoppy was promoted to management with Stuart Pharmaceuticals. There the couple lived for six years where both of their children, Leigh Hollingsworth Langley was born on December 20th, 1988 followed by their son, Collins Temple Walker Langley on August 14th, 1992.
The Langley’s would ultimately return to Memphis, TN in 1993 where Hoppy’s career in pharmaceuticals would begin to soar. After a 30 year career in pharmaceuticals, Hoppy decided to retire in 2013. However, his retirement was brief, when daughter Leigh advised the family that she had decided to pursue a medical career following her undergraduate degree at Alabama.
Hoppy’s retirement ended abruptly in 2014 when Otsuka Pharmaceuticals offered him a position within the firm. The Langley’s would continue to call Memphis their home until January of 2019 when Hoppy’s lifelong dream was realized… returning to Oxford, MS.
Hoppy has been a member of Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis since 1993, being baptized there following graduation from college in 1981.The family has requested that any memorial contributions to charity or church be made to Wellspring Community Church, 119 CR 303 Oxford, MS.
For further information or to leave an online condolence, please call 662.234.7971 or visit www.wallerfuneralhome.com.
Psalm 34:8 “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
Reception will follow after the service at the home, 16 Highland Place, Oxford, MS 38655.
Visitation
Saturday, December 12, 2020 10:00AM – 1:00PM
West Hall at Waller Funeral Home
419 Hwy 6 West
Oxford, MS 38655
Hoppy was a bigger than life kind of guy. He was loved and respected by many and will be sorely missed. He stood up for and loved the Lord. Few people will have such a positive impact on so many. What a legacy he leaves. I am so glad that we who trust the Lord will see each other again. If you look for Hoppy in heaven and don’t see him, just follow the sound of laughter. He will be telling a tale.
Farewell Hoppy Langley
If you could only use only one word to describe Hoppy it would be Gentleman. He carried himself with grace along with a little grit. He was economic with his words, but when he spoke you listened.
Hoppy’s family will miss their patriarch, the Ole Miss nation will miss a football hero, and his Otsuka family will miss him too. All of us, though, have the blessing of his memory which is comforting.
Hoppy has left a legacy here at Otsuka as he hired and trained two of our outstanding Account Managers, Greg Bohrer and Tom McMillan when they each broke into pharmaceutical sales many years ago with Astra Zeneca. Pretty good magnet for talent! We should all be thankful for that!
Here’s to Hoppy!
Stephanie-
Bill and I are lifting you and your family up in prayer. I pray that God will comfort you and strengthen you during this very sad and difficult time.
My impression of Hoppy was formed immediately when we met as salesmen for Stuart Pharmaceuticals and it never wavered. He was the epitome of a true Southern Gentleman.
We are all richer for having had him in our lives and the world is a poorer place with his passing.
May God hold the Langley family in the palm of His hand during this sorrowful time.
My impression of Hoppy was formed immediately when we met as salesmen for Stuart Pharmaceuticals and it never wavered. He was the epitome of a true Southern Gentleman.
We are all richer for having had him in our lives and the world is a poorer place with his passing.
May God hold the Langley family in the palm of His hand during this sorrowful time.
May our Lord bless you and keep you as his face is shinning on you Hoppy!
May your family find peace with your spirit still alive with our Lord and Savior.
My heart is broken💔💔💔 I can’t even begin to say special Hoppy was to me and our sales team!
I will sooo miss my friend and co-worker😢, along with his infectious belly laughs, our weekly chats with him telling some funny story, or him asking how to work our complicated computer system, and of course his passionate for politics.
His love and the stories shared regarding his family were like no other, and I can’t imagine the pain that they are going through.Praying for you daily Stephanie, Leigh, and Collins🙏🙏🙏
As sad as I am, I’m so happy and thankful to have been blessed with his friendship ❤️ Everyone needs to experience a “Hoppy” friendship in their lifetime. I will miss you Hop and will see you again one day!!!
The memory of a loved one is never lost, it carries on through the lives they have touched.
Prayers going out to your entire family.
I cannot put into words what it means to me to even be counted as one of Hoppy’s acquaintances. Pam and I met Stephanie and Hoppy also Bellevue baptist church and they welcomed us as if we were long time friends. That is just how they are. Stephanie, we are praying for you and the kids. See Hoppy in glory!
Hoppy had such a contagious smile. We thoroughly enjoyed talking politics, as he sat in my salon chair. He always referred to Stephanie, his wife, as
“HIS BOMBSHELL” and nothing’s too good for her! He was so proud of his daughter, Leigh, and his son, Collins. Hoppy was a super nice guy that loved his Lord, loved his family and loved life itself! I will sorely miss him. My prayers are with his family.