Carnish Dean Hopkins

Carnish Dean Hopkins born January 18, 1959, in Detroit, Michigan, at Trinity Hospital, went on to be with the Lord on Tuesday May 27, 2025 at the age of 66. He was the fifth and youngest child of Willie Hopkins and Mildred Harris.

Carnish received his education in the Detroit Public School system and proudly graduated from Pershing High School. During his time at Pershing, he fulfilled his love of sports by becoming a dedicated athlete, participating in both cross-country and basketball as a very proud Pershing Doughboy.

Carnish was well known for his outgoing and friendly nature, easily connecting with people. He certainly met no strangers. He accepted the Lord in 1982 at New Life Christian Church. He lived his faith openly, always willing to help others. Carnish was affectionately given a plethora of nicknames from those who held him dear to their hearts. He was called the following; Conners, Collie, Cornish, Hop, Hoppy, Hopskins, Hawkins, Harper, Hobskins, Mr. Bubbles, The Lawnmower Man, Doc, Governor, Big Nate, Captain, General, Nish, and Con-con. He took pride in being the man of many names and responded to them all with warmth.

He was a true family man. Serving as the embodiment of all that it means to be an amazing husband and a phenomenal father.

You could tell how much Carnish loved his family by how he worked fervently to guarantee they had all that they needed and wanted. Carnish's early work experiences included stints at Stouffers restaurant and Presidents Tuxedo before he joined Chrysler. However, on his first day at Chrysler, he received advice from an older colleague who told him, "Young man you don't want to spend your life in here. Go somewhere else and get you a better job." This led him to MichCon, where he was hired on December 8, 1980, as a mail clerk. By August 1, 1982, he began driving the daily Pony Express Mail route to Lansing, Mt. Pleasant, and Grand Rapids.

In 1983, at MichCon, Carnish met Mary V. Hardy, a woman he admired for her strength, confidence, courage, and kindness. They married on October 5, 1984, and had a daughter; TaSchema Hopkins. Mary encouraged Carnish to seek opportunities beyond the mailroom and on October 20, 1985, he moved to meter reading. However, he did not stop there. He was then transferred to Distribution as a pipe fitter on June 28, 1987. He excelled in his role, achieving General seniority quickly and catching the attention of his supervisor, Paul Riley. Carnish became the go-to person for challenging tasks and a mentor for those needing extra support. In February 1997, he made a lateral move to field service and became a cross-trained General in Field Service Operations.

Carnish was then assigned to the ORC, the training department for new hires and yearly update training to those already in the field, or field workers. With the assistance of a fellow colleague from up north during class and testing sessions, he managed the training department in Melvindale for several years, earning his Instructor Trainer Certification. He innovatively created new prop devices to enhance training and traveled to Lansing and Grand Rapids for worker updates. After the DTE Energy buyout and a 2006 restructuring, he returned to Distribution at the Lynch Road station. Around 2010, his supervisor, preparing for retirement, sent Carnish back to the ORC, where he concluded his career and retired on September 21, 2021.

Carnish was preceded in death by his mother, Mildred Hopkins, his father, Willie Hopkins, and his brother, Willard Hopkins.

He is survived by his wife, Mary, known as Ginger Hopkins; his son, Uthunt Hardy; his daughter, TaSchema (Jason) Hopkins; four grandchildren, Dorean Hardy, Lovell Hardy, Ryan Thomas, and Bryson Thomas; two sisters, Hazel Hopkins and Dora Hopkins; a brother, Marshall Hopkins; Adrienne Johnson and Nicole Bowman; his honorary daughters and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.