Jerry R. Hawkins, 67, of Cleveland, TN, passed away Tuesday, April 9, 2013 at the family residence.
Jerry was the son of the late Dora Black Hawkins and Joseph Hawkins; and was also preceded in death by his grandson, Burton Ausburn; his step-son, West Harden; his sisters, Mary Lou Woodward and her husband Steve, Marie McKinney and her husband Johnny and Nettie Hawkins; his brothers, Frankie Hawkins, Claude Hawkins, Robert Hawkins and his wife Margaret, Charlie Hawkins and his wife Dorothy, Bill Hawkins and Irvin Hawkins.
Jerry served as a Sheriff’s Deputy with the Polk County Sheriff’s Department for 17 years. He also served as Chief of Police for Ducktown, TN. He worked for the EMS in Bradley County with 14 years of service and also with the Polk County EMS. He also worked for Astec Industries in Chattanooga for a time. Jerry was an avid fisherman and he enjoyed riding in the Mountains and watching old Westerns on T.V. He attended the Abundant Life Church.
Survivors include his wife, Jo Anne Hawkins of Cleveland; his daughters, Sheila Hawkins of Fort Oglethorpe, Schonna Goins and her husband Bobby of Cleveland, Tabitha Holder and her husband Doug of Benton and Tonya Wilson of Ocoee; his son, Marty L. Hawkins and his wife Audrey of Dayton; his grandchildren, Venita Karakaya and her husband Dogan, Andrew Trow, Cheyenne Cross, Javin Hawkins and his wife Macy, Branden Hawkins, Evyn Hawkins and Angela Wilson; his great-grandchildren, Cuyler Trow, Cayden Cross, AnaBella Karakaya and Teygan Karakaya; his step- daughter, Paula Ledford; his sister, Betty Groomes of Cleveland; his mother-in-law, Hazel Taylor of Cleveland; his sister-in-law, Faye Hawkins of Fort Oglethorpe; and several nieces and nephews.
The Remembrance of Life Service will be conducted 1 p.m. Saturday, April 13 from the Wildwood Chapel of the Jim Rush Funeral Homes with the Reverend Johnny Smith and the Reverend Gary Farris officiating. Interment will follow in the Dill Cemetery in Polk County with family and friends serving as pallbearers.
The family will receive friends Friday, April 12 after 5 p.m. from the Wildwood Chapel of the Jim Rush Funeral Homes who has charge of the arrangements.