Jerry "Babe"  Hopwood was born June 28, 1941 in Deep River, Iowa to the late C.V. "Bud" Hopwood and Juanita Churchill Hopwood.  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his former wife, Mary Gaynelle Emerson Hopwood who died December 21, 1988, his three brothers, Jack Hopwood, Vaughn Hopwood, Gary Hopwood, an infant sister and his daughter, Rebecca Elsberry.  Mr. Hopwood was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Tifton.  He was retired from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College working in the physical plant department.  He was a veteran of the United States Air Force. Jerry had lived in Tifton since 1984 moving here from Deep River, Iowa.  He loved classic country music, the Atlanta Braves, Nascar and had traveled to Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Costa Rica, Panama and all over the United States including Alaska and Hawaii.  He enjoyed traveling to the Georgia Coast.  Mr. Hopwood was a family man and particularly enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren.  He was proud of his Military service.  He loved people and never met a stranger.

Mr. Hopwood is survived by his wife, Janie Dodson Hopwood of Tifton to whom he was married for twenty-nine years; three daughters and sons-in-law, Julie and Kendall Sterk of Montezuma, Vicki Hopwood of Macon, Georgia and Melissa and Jeffrey Tresidder of Minneapolis, Mn; his grandchildren, Kyle and Ruth Sterk, Aiden Keen, Austin and Rachel Keen and Nicole and Colby Sutton and his great grandchildren, Craig Sterk, Caleb Sterk and Caitlin Hall.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Deep River Fire Department.

Following the graveside service, a celebration of life coffee time will be held at the Deep River Community Center.