Jazz and blues singer Linda Hopkins spent her last years in Milwaukee

Milwaukee's Christian Faith Fellowship Church is a long way from the bright lights of Broadway.

But on Tuesday, a bit of Broadway sparkle will surely be reflected inside the church when worshipers celebrate the life of Linda Hopkins, who died April 10 at the age of 92. Hopkins, who suffered a stroke around a decade ago, spent her final years in Milwaukee.

Hopkins' voice was honed at St. Mark's Baptist Church in New Orleans, where she caught the attention of legendary gospel singer Mahalia Jackson. And her talent awed theater audiences in New York. In 1972, she earned a Tony Award for best performance by a featured actress in a musical for her role in "Inner City."

Hopkins stirred crowds in the one-woman show "Me and Bessie," about blues singer Bessie Smith, and the revue "Black and Blue." And she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2005.

"As kids, the only nights we were able to stay up late would be to see her on the Johnny Carson show," said Hopkins' great-niece, Hazel Lindsey. "We saw her a lot of times."

Hopkins had no immediate family, Lindsey said. Most of her closest family members, a niece and great-nieces and nephews, lived in the Milwaukee area. In Dec. 2015, they helped move her here from California.

"She was a very talented, gifted woman," Lindsey said. "It was in her heart to do what she did. She loved to captivate the audience. That was who she was. She loved what she did. And also, she was a very God-fearing woman. She loved God and she just loved people."

Lindsey said the music for the funeral service would "come right out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin."

And one song will surely be sung with fervor.

"No matter where she performed, she always sang 'Amazing Grace,' " Lindsey said. "That was always her song."

Visitation will be held Tuesday at 10 a.m. with the funeral at 11 a.m. at Christian Faith Fellowship Church, 8605 W. Good Hope Road. Interment will follow at Graceland Cemetery, 6401 N. 43rd St.