Nina R. Hopkins

Nina Ruth Hopkins went peacefully to her eternal home with Jesus on July 14, 2023, at age 88. Nina was born to James Chastain and Margaret Blackwood in Atlanta, Georgia. She grew up in the Stone Mountain community, lettered in basketball at Stone Mountain High School, and was the Valedictorian of her graduating class. Relationships were always of great importance to Nina, and the friendships formed in kindergarten, who attended school together through 12th grade, were her “First Graders” group for life. Nina lived in the Tucker community for most of her life. Nina was preceded in death by her parents, her brother James Chastain Blackwood, Jr., her sister Lovelace Austin, and her son Mark Hopkins. She is survived by her daughters JoAnna Clark (Tony) of Lithia Springs, GA, and Patricia Rainey (Joe) of Johns Creek, GA; her grandchildren Michelle Edwards (Lawrenceville, GA), Elizabeth Rainey (Statesboro, GA), James Rainey (Johns Creek, GA), Shane and Chrissy Clark (Flower Mound, TX) and Brad and Amy Clark (Powder Springs, GA); her great grandchildren Natalie, Samantha, Owen and Lizzy Clark, and many cousins, nieces and nephews. In an era when most mothers were housewives, Nina gave her children a wonderful example of how to be an exceptional mother with a career. Over her life she worked for Bellsouth, the DeKalb County School Board, Brockett Christian Academy, and primarily as a real estate broker at Century 21 Fossett Realty. Nina was a woman of strong faith, a powerful prayer warrior, and she instilled in her children the importance of family, faith, hard work and doing what is right. She was an amazing role model and through her we know what perseverance and resilience truly are. She never quit, always had a positive spirit and “can’t” was not a word in her vocabulary. After retirement, Nina’s joy was helping her grandchildren discover a passion for learning at “Nana’s daycare.” Nina was a pianist from an early age. When her church was given an organ, she stepped up to learn how to play it and served as an organist for 30 or more years. She loved to put together puzzles, play UNO and Phase 10, and cook. Nina is famous for her divinity and fudge candies, melt in your mouth pecan kisses, and dinners that would serve an army. Nina was one of the strongest and kindest women to ever walk this earth and our family was blessed to have her as the head of the family. Family and friends are invited to her home going celebration on Friday, July 21, 2023, at Wages and Sons Funeral Home, 1040 Main St., Stone Mountain, GA 30083. Family will receive visitors from noon till 2 pm with the service at 2 pm in the chapel. All are welcome to join family for Nina’s burial at Melwood Cemetery, 5170 E. Ponce de Leon Ave., Stone Mountain, GA 30083 following the service. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Nina’s name to the First Christian Church of Atlanta, 4532 LaVista Road, Tucker, GA 30084 ( www.firstchristianatlanta.com ) or to Golden Rule Hospice Foundation, 4080 McGinnis Ferry Rd., Suite 602, Alpharetta, GA 30005 ( www.goldenrulehospice.com ). Both organizations were important to her.