Jim Poplin

ROSSVILLE James Harold "Pop" Poplin Jr., 58, died Saturday, July 21, 2012, in a local hospital.He had been a resident of north Georgia for the past 35 years and was of the Baptist faith. Mr. Poplin was chief of Hamilton County STARS which he founded in 1983, and also served as chief safety director of APBA Offshore Racing. He was a retired lieutenant of the Chattanooga Fire Department and a former member of the Sale Creek Volunteer Fire Department.He was preceded in death by his father, James Harold Poplin Sr.; grandparents, James and Ruby Ganey and James and Alma Poplin; and a son, Jeremy Hooper.Survivors are his loving wife of 28 years, Debbie Poplin; son, Jeff Hooper, Chattanooga; daughter, Krissy (Jamie) Smith, Lookout Valley; mother, Arlean Poplin, Rome, Ga.; brother, Brent (Janet) Poplin, Rome, Ga.; grandchildren, Nick Hooper and Brianna Smith; niece, Katie Whitman; nephew, Ben Poplin; numerous special nieces and nephews who called him "uncle".Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. today July 24, in the funeral home chapel with Pastor Jim Black and Pastor Garland Hullender officiating.Entombment in Tennessee-Georgia Memorial Park with Paul Abreu, Josh Ingle, Tony Reavley, Bobby Farr, Buddy Kamin, Greg Banks, Jeff Graham and Clay Ingle serving as active pallbearers.Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Hamilton County STARS.Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Chattanooga, P.O. Box 19269, Chattanooga, TN 37416, or Hamilton County STARS, 8614 Ramsey Road, Harrison, TN 37341.Visit www.heritagefh.com to share words of comfort with the family and view the memorial tribute.The family will receive friends from 9-11 a.m. today at Heritage Funeral Home & Crematory, Battlefield Parkway.