Carla Jean Norris-Hopkins

Carla Jean Norris-Hopkins, or “Auntie” as she was affectionately called, was born on August 31, 1949 to the union of Eddie Norris Sr. and Bettye Norris. After high school she joined the United States Navy, where she was honorably discharged after years of service. Carla attended Southern University, Dallas Baptist University, and Texas Woman’s University. She retired from Frito-Lay and spent her retirement years traveling to visit family and friends, and spending time with her dogs Samson and Quizzy.

Carla accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior at an early age and was an active member of her church, Friendship Baptist Church of The Colony, where she sang in the choir. She loved to sing and perform, and she was a talented songwriter, arranger, and producer. Her singing career began after her jazz performance in her sister Saundra’s community play. Afterwards, she began to travel to different college campuses, performing jazz and R&B music. Carla performed nationally and internationally, including performing in Ghana and Nairobi, Kenya.

Carla LOVED pickleball! She would often spend hours a day, all day sometimes, playing pickleball. She was a fantastic player and traveled the country to participate in pickleball tournaments. She won numerous pickleball trophies and medals, which she proudly displayed in her home. If Carla wasn’t playing pickleball, she was watching the sport on television in order to study it and perfect her game. Carla was the pickleball ambassador for Little Elm, Texas and was a wonderful asset to the North Texas Pickleball family.  She took great pride in her position within the pickleball community and enjoyed mentoring others on how to play the game.

Carla was a warm, loving, and giving person with a beautiful smile that could light up a room. She radiated positive energy and had a heart of gold. She was selfless and generous, and would not hesitate to help others in need. She will truly be missed.

On July 30, 2021, Carla transitioned to be with the Lord. She was preceded in death by her mother Bettye Norris; husband, Tommy Hopkins; sister Saundra Philips; and brothers Eddie Norris Jr. and Weylin Norris. She leaves to cherish her memory – loving father Eddie (Orbidee) Norris Sr., brothers Weldon Norris, Eddie Jarvis Norris, and Lasana (Jasmine Ramkisson) Tunica-El; sister in love Valerie Norris-Brown; nieces Kricia (Courtney) Jones, Kandra Norris, Atlantys Tunica-El, Paris Matta; nephews Gerard Norris, Jermal Norris, Clay Tunica-El, and a host of loving cousins, family, friends, and her beloved pickleball family.

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