James Donald Hopper Sr., known to those who knew him as Don, of Chesterfield, Virginia, went to be with the Lord in the comfort of his own home in the early morning hours of May 17, 2026, at the beautiful age of 81, as a brilliant sunrise beckoned him home. He fought a long and courageous battle, surrounded by the love of his family.
Born on August 28, 1944, in Jackson County, Alabama, he was the son of the late Talmadge and Mary Julia Hopper. He was greeted in heaven by his brother, Junior, and his sisters, Charlotte, Reba, Virginia, Carol, and Becky. He leaves behind his beloved brothers, David, Jerry, and Harry.
Don’s life was anchored by a love story for the ages. He fell in love with Tina in the back seat of a car on a date meant for their siblings when they were just 12 and 14 years old. They married the very day Tina graduated high school in a simple ceremony in her family’s living room in Horton, Alabama. Together, they built a life filled with devotion, laughter, and family.
Don was a man of God. He found his faith in the Lord and was truly a servant-working the sound booth for many years at Calvary Baptist Church. Don was the first one to offer to pray at every meal and his powerful prayers will truly be missed.
Don was a man who never met a stranger and was always ready with a joke. He will be remembered for the familiar, comforting sound of his hand in his pocket, jingling his change.
He worked as a long-haul trucker for a time — sharing wild and wonderful stories from the road alongside his good buddy, John. He later built a 30-year career as a service supervisor with Goodyear; but his true passion was cars. In his final years, he spent countless happy hours in his garage, lovingly rebuilding a 1975 Volkswagen Beetle; a project he very nearly finished. He also loved to fish, loved a good western movie or episode of Gunsmoke, and had an admiration for John Wayne. He cared deeply for his yard and could fix or build just about anything … always content to piddle away a day in “pawpaw’s garage”.
He leaves behind his beautiful wife and lifelong love, Tina Hopper. He is remembered by his children, Timothy, Don and his wife Angela, and Shirley; his grandchildren, Julia and her husband Chris, Katie and her husband Dustin, Chelsey and her husband Caulin, Jimmy and his wife Stephanie, and TJ; his great-grandchildren, Morrison, Zodiac, Kyria, Christopher, Aubriella, Layla, Emma, Abigail in Heaven, Arabella and Dustin Jr., Anna, and Olivia. His legacy of love, hard work, and gentle humor lives on in each of them. We know he’s walking the golden streets with his little black dog by his side.
A funeral service for family and close friends will be held at Adams Brown Funeral Home in Alabama, burial to follow at Liberty Hill Baptist Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that donations be made in Donald’s memory to the John Wayne Cancer Foundation at donate.johnwayne.org.
Philippians 4:13- I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
