Bernard Hopkins

Bernard Hopkins was born on February 8, 1961, to parents Bernard Hopkins and Yvonne Worrell in New York City. Bernard attended New York City Public Schools and joined the United States Air Force after high school. After his honorable discharge from the United States Air Force, Bernard settled into a career in skilled trades building construction (carpentry) and worked with independent contractors who were largely responsible for building affordable homes as part of the South Bronx neighborhood revitalization. When the neighborhood revitalization funding decreased, Bernard sought more consistent employment and transitioned to a career as a commercial driver. He enjoyed helping people and worked for many years as an ambulette driver transporting elderly and disabled patients to and from outpatient care and hospitals in the New York metropolitan area.

Bernard was a “rogue scholar” - he enjoyed history and regularly watched documentaries. He had an ecletic taste in the arts and loved visiting local museums, dabbling in his own photography often capturing cityscapes (photos of landmarks, buildings, and neighborhoods). His musical tastes ranged from Hip Hop/Rap (Public Enemy, A Tribe Called Quest, Mos Def, Beastie Boys, Biggie Smalls and DMX), alternative music (Talking Heads), and classic rock (Queen). He loved independent films and popular blockbusters as well. He deeply enjoyed anime in its early years (Dragon Ball, Cowboy Bebop, Trigun) as well as Marvel cartoons.

Bernard was well loved and he loved his family dearly, especially his children. He is the father of Catrina Elliot through his relationship with Angenelia Elliot, Jason Hopkins through his relationship with Sheila Gross, Crystal Hopkins through his relationship with Adrienne Cabral, and the father of Jasmine, Josias, Jenard, Jadzia, Jena, and Justin Hopkins through his relationship with Tina Pack. He also assisted Tina with raising Reginald Russaw Jr. and Patricia Pack-Faulcon (Tina’s nephew and niece) after the passing of their mother, Oeiba Pack.

Bernard is preceded in death by his beloved mother Yvonne Worrell, his father Bernard Hopkins, his uncle Sam Worrell, his aunt Fanny Worrell, his oldest daughter’s mother Angenelia Elliot, and his oldest son’s mother, Sheila Gross.

Bernard is survived by his brothers Jimmy Linton and Sterling Linton, all of his children, Adrienne Cabral (mother of Crystal Hopkins), Tina Pack (mother of Jasmine, Josias, Jenard, Jadzia, Jena, and Justin), his grandchildren, and other family members and loved ones.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.walterbcooke.net for the Hopkins family.