Mr. Ernest Franklin Hawkins, affectionately known as “Frankie,” passed away on Monday, August 22, 2022 surrounded by family at his residence following a courageous battle with cancer. A funeral service to celebrate his life will be held on Thursday, August 25 at 2:00 P.M. in the Bethlehem Baptist Church of Warthen with burial in Brownwood Cemetery of Sandersville. Reverend Clarke Hawkins, Reverend M.D. Cabe, and Reverend Anthony Baker will officiate. Pallbearers will be Jeff Channell, Matthew Hawkins, Spencer Hawkins, Stephen Hawkins, Jessica Lewis, Jon Alston Lewis, Kristi De La Rosa, and Pete De La Rosa. Honorary Pallbearers will be Kim Kitchens, Wayne Norris, Aubrey Wiggins, and the Deacons of Bethlehem Baptist Church. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, August 24 from 4:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. at the May and Smith Funeral Home in Sandersville.
Mr. Hawkins was a native and lifelong resident of Washington County, the son of the late Ernest Clarke Hawkins and the late Stella Reynolds Hawkins. He was reared in Warthen and graduated from the Sandersville High School. Frankie started his working career at the age of 13 driving a log truck for his father’s logging business. Mr. Hawkins began a fruitful 43-year career in 1958 with Thiele Kaolin Company, retiring in Quality Control. He possessed a lifelong love of farming and enjoyed cutting hay for himself and others. Frankie was regarded as a “Volkswagen Beetle Specialist,” due to his vast collection and ability to repair them. Mr. Hawkins enjoyed woodworking and crafting furniture for family and friends. He was a long-time member of the Bethlehem Baptist Church, where he served as a Deacon. Known as “Big Daddy” to his family, Frankie cherished his time spent with children and grandchildren, leaving each with a legacy of love. Mr. Hawkins is preceded in death by his son, David Hawkins; grandson, J.J. Larimore; and brother, Lamar Hawkins.
Survivors include the “love of his life” and wife of 60 years, Fannie Watkins Hawkins; children, Glenn Hawkins and his wife Jennifer of Warthen and Sharon H. Lewis and her husband Tony of Warthen; grandchildren, Kristi De La Rosa and her husband Pete, Stephen Hawkins and his wife Jessica, Spencer Hawkins, Matthew Hawkins, Jessica Lewis, and Jon Alston Lewis; great-grandchildren, Avery De La Rosa, Ansley Hawkins, Madalyn Hawkins, Zander Hawkins, Kayleigh Ann Larimore, Caydon Larimore, Grayson Larimore and Bryce Larimore; great-great-grandson, Jaiden Larimore; and brother, Rev. Clark Hawkins and his wife Trisha of Virginia.
The family is located at the the residence of Mr. Hawkins on Highway 15 North in Sandersville.
Online condolence may be expressed at mayandsmithfuneraldirectors.com.
May and Smith Funeral Directors is in charge of these arrangements.