Paul Hopper

Harden "Paul" Hopper, Jr., age 96, died peacefully on January 28, 2026. Born in Wrens, Georgia, on February 13, 1929, Paul was the son of Harden Paul Hopper, Sr., and Hattie Ruth Farmer Hopper.

Paul was a graduate of the University of Georgia, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture in 1951. Following his graduation, he was drafted into the United States Army and served from 1951 to 1952 in the Veterinary Corps, stationed in West Germany.

After his military service, Paul built a long and respected career in the dairy industry. He worked with Miss Georgia Dairies, Sumter S.C. Dairies, and spent many years with Atlanta Dairies, where he retired in 1994 as General Manager.

Paul enjoyed gardening, hunting, and fishing, pursuits that reflected his lifelong love of the outdoors. In his retirement years, after moving from Cobb County to Habersham County, some of his most cherished years were spent helping care for his granddaughters as they grew, memories he treasured deeply.

In that same season of life, Paul found a renewed sense of belonging in the life of the church. He became active in his local congregation, serving on various committees, as president of his Sunday School class, and giving himself to the work of the church and the care of others. He also gave generously of his time in the wider community through Meals on Wheels and by serving as president of his homeowners' association. In 2024, he was a charter member of Grace United Methodist Church in Clarkesville, Georgia, a new church plant that held a special place in his heart.

Paul was preceded in death by his parents; his siblings, George Hopper and Mary Jo Hopper; and his beloved wife, Joyce Roddy Hopper. He is survived by his son, Harden P. Hopper III, and daughter-in-law, Karen Hopper, and his granddaughters, Emma Hopper and Madeline Lombard.

A celebration of Paul's life will be held on February 13 at 1:30 p.m. at Cornelia United Methodist Church, 275 Wyly Street, Cornelia, Georgia 30531, with a reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be made to Cornelia United Methodist Church.