On Sunday, September 6, 2015, the West Georgia community lost a fine legal mind, a tireless fighter for the voiceless, a husband, a father, a grandfather, a philanthropist, a friend, animal lover, and so much more with the passing of Carroll County attorney, Judge James J. (Jim) Hopkins. Jim was the son of the late James Atwell Hopkins and Dorothy Shade Hopkins of Dayton, Ohio. Jim was born on September 2, 1953, in Stuebenville, Ohio. As a baby his family moved to Dayton, Ohio where Jim would live until he and his mother moved to Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida to be nearer his paternal grandmother after the sudden tragic death of his father. He graduated from Tavares High School in Florida and from Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. In the spring of 1977, he graduated from Emory with his M.S. degree in chemistry, and also graduated from Georgia State with an A.S. degree in EMS along with an advanced EMT certification, one of the first in the state. He went on to work for Grady Hospital in Atlanta, as a Wendy's manager, and taught chemistry at Lithia Springs High School in Douglasville. He became Mr. Mom after the birth of his son Ashley in January 1984 and enrolled in law school at Emory 1985. After graduating from Emory Law School in 1989, he worked for Atlanta law firm, Drew, Eckl and Farnham until moving to Carrollton for his son to start school at Oak Mountain Academy. He worked for Smith & Diment Law Firm until opening his own practice, and being appointed as a Magistrate Court Judge, in the late fall of 1992. He continued as a practicing attorney and Magistrate Court Judge until his death. Survivors include his wife, Melonie Hopkins; son, James Ashley "Ash" Hopkins of Ashville, North Carolina; grandson, James Luca Hopkins (a 6th generation James Hopkins); step-son, Patrick Nelson of Carrollton, Georgia; adopted daughter and her husband, Autumn Hopkins Baker and Grant; granddaughter, Amelia Drew Baker; sisters, Betsy Smith of Dayton, Ohio, Susan Shimer of Chicago, Illinois; nieces and nephews, Christine, Mao, Marlin, Melissa and Samantha; extended family that he served as dad to Rachel Carroll of Bremen, Georgia, Becca Dawson of Carrollton, Georgia and "family by choice" to Chasity Wilson of Carrollton, Georgia, Shelly Dawson of Carrollton, Georgia, Adele Billman of Carrollton, Georgia, and Layna Robinson of Carrollton, Georgia and his beloved paralegal of 21 years, Bonnie Turner Barker of Temple, Georgia, and a host of others. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by the biggest influence in his life, grandmother, Clara Hopkins Ross. A Celebration of Life service will be held Saturday, September 12 at 2 p.m. at the Townsend Center located on the campus of the University of West Georgia. A reception will follow the service in the lobby. Honorary pallbearers will be the Carroll County Bar Association. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Carroll County Humane Society, P.O. Box 1304, Carrollton, GA 30112, online at www.carrollcountyhumane.org/donate or better yet, adopt a dog or cat from the shelter. Messages of condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.almonfuneralhome.com. Almon Funeral Home of Carrollton has charge of arrangements.