Obituary for Laura L. Hawkes
On Monday, April 6, 2009, at her residence, the Lord called from labor to reward our beloved Laura Lee Hawkes. She was born in Nottoway County on March 27, 1917, to the late McToy and Ida B. Hawkes.
Laura was educated in the Nottoway County Public Schools. At an early age she was baptized at the Cedar Hill Baptist Church and remained a faithful member of the Senior Choir until her health begin to decline. She truly loved her church and supported it in any way she could. She along with the late Sister Julia Baylor were instrumental in bringing together the four churches, Poplar Lawn, Jerusalem, Cellar Creek, and Cedar Hill, where services were held annually for Easter Sunrise Services and Watch Night.
Laura began her employment with the Nottoway County Public Schools in 1969 as a cafeteria worker and retired in 1991. She loved to cook and was known far and wide for her delicious meals, especially the desserts. As a testimony to her desserts, TRY RIBMAN, INC., Delicious Bar-B-Que of Baltimore, MD features Aunt Laura’s original Virginia Pies as part of their menu. One never left Laura’s home without her lovingly prepared goodie bag.
On July 7, 1937, she was united in holy matrimony to Richard Alvin Hawkes and from this happy and loving union, they had one daughter, Verna Lee Hawkes Rhoades, whom they loved and nurtured throughout her life and she in return reciprocated that love and nurture a thousand times over.
Laura became a member of the Blackstone Community Chorus at its inception in 1971 and remained a loyal and dedicated member even though she was physically unable to participate. She loved the Chorus and continued to support it in any way possible.
Laura is survived by the first love of her life, her husband of over 71 years, Alvin Hawkes, and the second love of her life, her dearly beloved and steadfast daughter, Verna Rhoades; one loyal and supportive brother and sister-in-law, Joe and Henrietta Hawkes, one sister-in-law, Catherine Hawkes; a great niece who lived with her for several years, Roslyn Davis, and Roslyn’s two older siblings, Christine and George, who also lived with her briefly; one niece, Joanne Wilson (Samuel), one nephew, Harry D. Hawkes (Carla); and a host of other nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends whom she adored and was always so appreciative of their kindnesses. Laura was preceded in death by two brothers, Harry L. and Bernard Hawkes; and one sister, Esther Conaway.
Laura had an extended family that she described in different ways: C. Randolph Worsham (Marcia) was the “son” she never had, C. L. & Jean Hobbs were just her children who were always there for her, and Ruth Williams was considered not only her caregiver, but a second daughter. She loved them all and just enjoyed being around them.
Funeral Services Friday, April 10, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. at Cedar Hill Baptist Church, Blackstone with interment in the church cemetery.
W.E. Hawkes & Son Funeral Home of Blackstone in charge of the arrangements.
Read More
Laura was educated in the Nottoway County Public Schools. At an early age she was baptized at the Cedar Hill Baptist Church and remained a faithful member of the Senior Choir until her health begin to decline. She truly loved her church and supported it in any way she could. She along with the late Sister Julia Baylor were instrumental in bringing together the four churches, Poplar Lawn, Jerusalem, Cellar Creek, and Cedar Hill, where services were held annually for Easter Sunrise Services and Watch Night.
Laura began her employment with the Nottoway County Public Schools in 1969 as a cafeteria worker and retired in 1991. She loved to cook and was known far and wide for her delicious meals, especially the desserts. As a testimony to her desserts, TRY RIBMAN, INC., Delicious Bar-B-Que of Baltimore, MD features Aunt Laura’s original Virginia Pies as part of their menu. One never left Laura’s home without her lovingly prepared goodie bag.
On July 7, 1937, she was united in holy matrimony to Richard Alvin Hawkes and from this happy and loving union, they had one daughter, Verna Lee Hawkes Rhoades, whom they loved and nurtured throughout her life and she in return reciprocated that love and nurture a thousand times over.
Laura became a member of the Blackstone Community Chorus at its inception in 1971 and remained a loyal and dedicated member even though she was physically unable to participate. She loved the Chorus and continued to support it in any way possible.
Laura is survived by the first love of her life, her husband of over 71 years, Alvin Hawkes, and the second love of her life, her dearly beloved and steadfast daughter, Verna Rhoades; one loyal and supportive brother and sister-in-law, Joe and Henrietta Hawkes, one sister-in-law, Catherine Hawkes; a great niece who lived with her for several years, Roslyn Davis, and Roslyn’s two older siblings, Christine and George, who also lived with her briefly; one niece, Joanne Wilson (Samuel), one nephew, Harry D. Hawkes (Carla); and a host of other nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends whom she adored and was always so appreciative of their kindnesses. Laura was preceded in death by two brothers, Harry L. and Bernard Hawkes; and one sister, Esther Conaway.
Laura had an extended family that she described in different ways: C. Randolph Worsham (Marcia) was the “son” she never had, C. L. & Jean Hobbs were just her children who were always there for her, and Ruth Williams was considered not only her caregiver, but a second daughter. She loved them all and just enjoyed being around them.
Funeral Services Friday, April 10, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. at Cedar Hill Baptist Church, Blackstone with interment in the church cemetery.
W.E. Hawkes & Son Funeral Home of Blackstone in charge of the arrangements.
To plant a tree in memory of Laura L. Hawkes, visit the Tribute Store.
Loading...