MARY HAWKINS

Mary A. Hawkins, 56, of Momence, IL, passed away on Monday, May 15, 2017 at Riverside Medical Center. Visitation will be Friday, May 19, 2017 from 4:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M at Lax Mortuary and again on Saturday, May 20, 2017 from 10:00 A.M. until time of funeral services at 11:00 A.M. at Gethsemane Gardens Missionary Baptist Church, 1500 E. Willow, Kankakee, IL. Minister Lamare Hampton will officiate and Elder John Hawkins Jr. will deliver the eulogy. Burial will be in Momence Cemetery. Mary Annette (BREAD) Hawkins was born February 1, 1961 to Elder John R. Hawkins Sr. and Virginia Ellen Bynum Hawkins, in Chicago, Illinois. After completing general studies, Bread furthered her education pursuing a career in computer technology, becoming an Alumni of DeVry Institute. Bread united with New Mount Zion Primitive Baptist Church in Momence, Illinois and was a faithful member until her death. Bread never married or had children but was a mother to many. Bread loved Ã¢â‚¬Å"the babies,Ã¢â‚¬Â especially her Ã¢â‚¬Å"Honey GabeÃ¢â‚¬Â and helped other family members with nurturing and raising their children. Bread loved cooking, sewing, writing short stories, and Sci-Fi movies. She always experimented with cooking different dishes and used anyone available as her guinea pig taste tester. The dishes were not always successful, but it was the enthusiasm and love that made everyone continue being her guinea pig. Bread was a comedian; she always made you laugh, even when the jokes were about you (e.g., she teased Virginia about her height, telling her to be careful not to trip over the curb). Bread was a wise woman, being a mother figure she always provided advice with wisdom. Family members gave her the name Ã¢â‚¬Å"Old Oak,Ã¢â‚¬Â as they saw her as a person that was full of knowledge like an old oak tree, absorbing life throughout itÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s time span. Bread was strong in faith regardless of the situation and trusted JESUS to break every chain, this was her theme song. She had a great love for Christ, hated the devil and cursed the devil at every turn. Her parents, John and Virginia Hawkins; sister, Mandella Marshall; brother, Rodney James Hawkins and maternal and paternal grandparents preceded Bread in death. Bread leaves to cherish a life time of memories: five sisters, Yolanda (Delbert) Davis of Kankakee, IL, Dr. Keturah (aka Harriett) Hawkins of Greensboro, NC, Jonlynn Hawkins of Momence, IL, Chantelle (LaFrance) Hawkins-Lucas of Kankakee, IL and Virginia Hawkins-Norris of Bradley, IL; one brother, John Riley Hawkins Jr. of Memphis, TN; her oldest living aunt, Mary Murrell; aunts, Dolly Lane, Closetta (Cleo) Meredith, Irene (Herman) Exom, Ola Nash, Ruby (Darwin) Sims, Georgia (Will) Breathitt; uncles, Jeremiah (Shirley) Hawkins, Wilbur (Georgia) Hawkins, Andrew Hawkins and Robert Hawkins and a massive host of nieces, nephews, cousins, church members, and friends.

Tributes

MARY HAWKINS

February 1, 1961 - May 15, 2017