Jesse Earl Hawkins, Jr

Jesse Earl Hawkins, Jr., Son of the late Jesse Earl Hawkins, Sr and Georgia B Williams Hawkins was born in Washington, DC on June 22, 1962. He departed this life on January 29, 2025 at home in Greenwood, SC with his wife at his bedside.

Jesse was raised Ewing Twp NJ and was a student of the Ewing Twp. Public School system, It was there that he developed a love of sports. As his zeal for sports waned, his passion for cars emerged and lasted his entire lifetime. In his junior year, a red 1972 Ford Maverick that caught his eye became his first vehicle purchase. Jesse went on to graduate from Ewing High School in 1980.

He attended college for a brief time but ultimately chose a career in the New Jersey Department of Corrections. He served diligently as a Senior Correctional Officer at the Albert C Wagner Correctional Facility, AKA “Gladiator School” from May 1982 until his retirement in October 2007.

Jesse took time to have fun. He was a die-hard fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New York Knicks. You’d often find him golfing with Roy Barlow, Joann Fitchett, Ernie Carson, Gwen Thomas, Betty Harris, Sydney Walden and Anthony Harper. There were deep sea fishing trips with Joseph Butler, Andrew Cleveland, Derrick Lowry, Baltimore, Syd Walden, and Lt Green. He shared his love of football on trips with Henry Jones, Barry Jackson, Darrell Van, Steven Matthews, Syd Walden, Melvin Robinson and the late André Keeton.

Jesse had a passion for cars, buying, selling, trading, discussing, in fact anything to do with cars he was readily available.

In 2008 he was united in holy matrimony to Jackie S Davis Kinnard and they later moved to Greenwood, SC where he met and made many friends from Locksley Hall to Ninety Six and beyond. Jesse will be missed but his memories will forever live on. He had a language all of his own and way he addressed people was uniquely intentional diffferent.

Preceded in death by his father Jesse Earl Hawkins, Sr, his mother Georgia Belle Williams Hawkins and uncle John C Williams, Jr

He is survived by his wife Jackie S Hawkins, his daughter Joy E Johnson Hawkins, granddaughter Hazel Sarima Eben-Foy, Joy’s mother Angela Johnson, brother Earl T. Jones, sister Jennifer Jones, aunt Henrietta Williams Brown, aunt in-law Bobbie Jean Williams, cousins, Kenneth Brown (Mia), Robert Brown (Sharon) John Carl Williams,III, and Brittany Nicole Williams. Step-children Towanda J Davis, Ramona S Davis-Bell, Steven Jennette and Rashonda J Kinnard, lifelong friend Anthony Harper, Special mentions: Charles “Charlie”
Milton and David “Cookie Monster” Cook, his Maltese dogs, Peoples and Sophie and a host of other relatives and friends. Honorable mentions: Clemson Pellin, William Moton, Roosevelt Moton and Odell Moton, and the Locksley Hall neighbors.

Services will be held Noon Saturday, February 8, 2025 at Percival Tompkins Chapel with Rev. Roosevelt Moton officiating.

Burial will follow in  Springfield Baptist Church Cemetery 2361 US 221 Greenwood, SC.

Public viewing will be held from 1-5 pm on Friday at the funeral home. 

Percival Tompkins Funeral Home is honored to serve the Hawkins family.

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