Charles T. Hopkins, 91, of Paris, Tennessee, died Friday, February 2, 2024, at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee.
Charles was born Wednesday, November 9, 1932, in Paris, Tennessee, to the late Roy Andrew Hopkins and the late Robbie Smith Hopkins. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by one sister: Glenda Hopkins; and three brothers: Arlon Hopkins, Jerry “Peck” Hopkins, and Fred Hopkins.
He attended the University of Tennessee at Martin where he was voted most outstanding student in business administration, and later graduated from Memphis State University.
He served in the U.S. Army for two years in intelligence, stationed at Ft. Knox, Kentucky.
Charles spent his early career in the food service industry, working as President of the Memphis Food Broker Association and Vice-President of H.S. Humphreys Food Company.
He was formerly employed by McCartney Produce in Paris and was the architect & designer of the company logo while in high school & college.
In 1987, Charles purchased The Toggery, a men’s clothing store and a long downtown mainstay in Paris. Alongside his wife, Charles owned and operated the store for 31 years and went on to see the store in its 100th year of operation, retiring in 2018.
He was a member & strong supporter of the Downtown Paris Association, where he served as former president.
In 2012, on his 80th birthday, he received the Marquis de Paris & Loyal Patriot of Henry County Award, and November 9, 2012, was officially recorded as “Charles Hopkins Day” in Paris & Henry County.
He was a longtime, faithful member of both the Paris Rotary Club, where he served as past president and Trinity United Methodist Church in Paris.
He was married Sunday, June 1, 1958, to his wife of almost 66 years: Edna Ainley Hopkins, who survives, of Paris, Tennessee.
Along with his wife, he is also survived by his daughter: Charla Hopkins-Graves (Brad), of Manchester, Tennessee; his son: Mark T. (Kathy) Hopkins, of Atlanta, Georgia; two sisters: Sherry (Steve) Fulton, of Franklin, Tennessee, and Barbara Montgomery, of Germantown, Tennessee; two sisters-in-law: Emily Hopkins, of West Point, Mississippi, and Cindy Hopkins, of Paris, Tennessee; and three grandchildren: Cammie (Parker) Hoyt, of Starkville, Mississippi, Collin Hopkins, of Memphis, Tennessee, and Charlie Murphy, Jr., of Colombia, South America.
Arrangements are being handled by Ridgeway Funeral Home, 201 Dunlap Street/PO Box 788, Paris, Tennessee, 38242.
Visitation was held Sunday, February 4, 2024, from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church, 409 N Wilson Street, Paris, Tennessee, 38242, and continued Monday, February 5, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church.
The funeral service was held Monday, February 5, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church, with Emily Walker, Mike Wimberley, and Brian Wimberley officiating.
Burial will be in Corning Cemetery in Corning, Arkansas, at a later date.
Memorials may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church, 409 N Wilson Street, Paris, Tennessee, 38242, or to the Paris Rotary Club Bill Caldwell Good Citizen Scholarship Fund, PO Box 34, Paris, Tennessee, 38242.