Mr. John Richardson Jopes Jr., 55, passed away peacefully on Monday August 21, 2023 in Greenfield, Indiana. John Jopes was a native of Fenton, LA. and resided in Bryan, TX.  He was born March 02, 1968 to Annie Janice and the Late John Jopes Sr.  John was always a hard worker being the oldest of the grandchildren he had to set the bar, he told stories of being up early in the morning at a young age helping his grandfather feed, chickens, hogs and cows and being shown how to butcher.  Out of high school he enlisted into the US Navy in December 1986-1990 and served on the USS Kitty Hawk as an Engineer and the highest ranked 3rd Class Petty Officer.  John served in Operation Desert Shield, graduated from Propulsion Engineering, received the Navy Expeditionary Medal on November 30, 1988 and was also on the Disaster Control Team in Fenton.  After coming home he took an interest in brick laying and was very successful, he employed his friends and family and they were slapping mortar and bricking houses all over Lake Charles and the surrounding areas where he acquired the name "Hammer" in his spare time he played softball with The Gamblers in Lake Charles and Zydeco'd until his feet couldn't go anymore.  After his experience with Brick laying, he started working at the Refineries in the oil and gas field, John worked his way up to become a Safety Manager and had over 32 years of Naval, Safety and Construction/ Refinery experience, traveling to different states all over the US and in the process he acquired his Masters in Theology in Freeport, TX where he met the love of his life.  In the mist of his sunset he was last employed by Health Safe Inc. in Morristown, IN, where he was planning to make that last travel for safety to be closer to his family permanently.

John loved being with family, cracking jokes and practicing his stand-up comedy routine, singing, and hosting gatherings for family and friends as well as a loyal fan to The New Orleans Saints. John had a huge personality and could never be in a room without any knowing he was there. There was never a dull moment with John "Pea to the nut" Jopes , he touched the lives of everyone he met and never met a stranger whether he was cooking for them, singing and impersonating James Brown, Stevie Wonder, and let's not forget the rapping and pop- locking king. John had a quote for everything and was a God fearing man who would always speak positivity and motivation into everyone. The word can't was never in his vocabulary and he didn't allow you to have it in yours.

John leaves to cherish his memories his loving wife who he adored, Liza (Agramonte) Jopes; one son, John Elijah Richardson Agramonte-Jopes III; one daughter, Gianna Yanetsy Agramonte-Jopes; his mother, Annie (Lemelle) Janice of Fenton, LA; his mother-in-law, Caridad Agramonte; his God-Mothers, Irene (Lemelle) Brown and Equilla Victorian; two sisters, Annette Joe of New Orleans, LA, Angie (Curtis) Deville from Fenton, LA; three brothers, Madison Janice Sr. of Houston, TX, Vernon Janice from Iowa, LA, Bertel (Lynette) Janice of Jasper, TX; three god-children,two sister-in-laws, two brother-in-laws, a host of nieces and nephews, cousins, uncles, aunts and friends.

John was preceded in death by his father's, John Jopes Sr. and Audley Janice; his father-in-law, Sergio Agramonte; sister-in-law Yantesy Agramonte, god-father Andrew Lemelle Sr., maternal and paternal grandparents, a host of aunts and uncles.

Celebration of Life Services will be held at 10:30 am Friday, September 1, 2023 at Greater St. Joseph Baptist Church, 716 1st Avenue in Fenton, LA.  Pastor Arnold Wykoff will officiate.  Visitation will be held from 8:00 am to 10:30 am Friday morning.  Burial will be in the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery under the direction of Semien-Lewis Mortuary of Jennings, LA.