HOPEWELL, Va. (WRIC) — Hopewell City Public Schools is mourning the loss of longtime leader and former English teacher Jan Butterworth. The district announced Butterworth's passing on social media Thursday. She was 64 years old. According to her obituary, Butterworth worked at the school division for 34 years as a ninth-grade English teacher and assistant principal at Hopewell High School and later as the district's director of instruction. "While we trust in God's plan and timing for her precious life, we cannot imagine our work, our district or our city without her in it," wrote Superintendent Melody Hackney. "Jan was truly one of the finest human beings I have ever known. If you knew her, you loved her. And if she knew you, she loved you." HCPS staff described her as funny, loving, dedicated, inspiring and a friend, the post reads. During Butterworth's time with HCPS and her career in public education, she advocated for language arts, the fine arts, gifted education, Cub Scouts and the James River Ball — a committee supporting the district's art and music programs. Butterworth was born in Danville and had called Hopewell home for the past three decades. She was an alumna of Radford University and Virginia Commonwealth University, her obituary said. ...read more read less