George William Hawkins Sr., 65, Harwood

Friday, Oct. 3, 2008

He was born Oct. 18, 1942, to Helen Mackall Hawkins and the late Frederick Hawkins.

He was raised in Calvert County. In 1960, he graduated from Brooks High School. He accepted the Lord Jesus Christ at the age of 19. As a member of the Church of God at Lothian, he served in many roles, including superintendent of Sunday School for 28 years, deacon for 13 years and chairperson of the building committee.

In 1983, he accepted his divine call to the ministry. In 1992, the late pastor Raymond C. Wills appointed Hawkins to succeed him. He served faithfully as pastor until his death.

During his lifetime of service to the church, he led the construction of a new sanctuary, established ministries to meet the needs of members and the community, led marriage seminars and counseling and provided financial and spiritual assistance to countless local families. In 2002, his civic contributions were recognized with citations from both the Maryland House of Delegates and the Senate as well as from the Maryland Senate President Sen. Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. In 2003, for his faithfulness as a pastor, he was appointed as bishop. Prior to serving as pastor, he (as president), along with his father and brothers, operated the family business, F.R. Hawkins and Sons of Annapolis, that built and remodeled homes throughout the Annapolis and Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area for more than 50 years. He had many business and personal interests beyond the construction trade. He rented residential properties, enjoyed gardening and once operated a produce stand in Edgewater.

In addition to his mother, he is survived by his wife, Gertrude Hawkins; sons, the Rev. George Hawkins and his wife Sharlene, Kevin Hawkins and his wife Tyre, Craig Hawkins and his wife Roslyn, the Rev. Derek Hawkins and his wife Wauketa, and Darrin Hawkins and his wife Andrea; 14 grandchildren; sisters, Mary Arthur and her husband Robert and Ruth Warner and her husband Leroy; brothers, Eugene and his wife Debra, Charles, Fred and his wife Jewel, Elsworth Sr., and his wife Evelyn, Jerome and Purnell Sr.; as well as many other family and friends.

Funeral services were held Sept. 20 at the Church of God in Washington, D.C.

The Rev. George W. Hawkins Jr. officiated.

Interment was held at the Church of God Cemetery in Lothian.

Pallbearers were deacons Tyrone Sollers, Tony Gross, Clyde Jones Sr., Joshua Jones, Quentin Jones Jr. and Adrian Batson.

Honorary pallbearers were the Revs. Richard Smith, Steve Bailey Jr., Quentin Jones Sr., Rodney Davis and Isaiah Watkins, deacons John Tynes, James Russell, Carlos Estep Sr., and John Chapman Jr., the Rev. Dante King, brothers Claye Gross and Joseph Graves, Whitfield Glover III and Rodney Neal.

Funeral services were provided by Sewell Funeral Home in Prince Frederick.