Mr. Joseph V. "Shorty" Hawkins

MR. JOSEPH V. “SHORTY” HAWKINS, age 95, of Summerville, Georgia, Pennville Community, passed away Thursday, July 6, 2017, in the local nursing home.  He was born in Chattooga County, Georgia on October 28, 1921, a son of the late Roy and Charlsey Elizabeth Owens Hawkins.  Mr. Hawkins was a member of Pennville First Baptist Church, a Veteran of WW II serving in the U. S. Army and  lifetime member of the American Legion DAV and a Quarter Century member for Riegel Textile Corp. where He worked for 44 years.  Shorty came to Trion and went to work for the Trion Company at the Trion Dry Cleaners in July, 1941.  He married the love of his life, Jeanette Jones on January 10, 1942.  In February, 1942, He was drafted into the U.S. Army serving four years.  After discharge returned to Trion working as manager of Trion Dry Cleaners.  In 1958 was transferred to manage the men & Boys Department at the Big Friendly, later also managing the shoe department .  When the store closed in 1961, Shorty was transferred to the Personnel Department of Riegel Mills as Employment Manager.  Between 1961 and July of 1985, Shorty hired hundreds of employees for the Mill.  After retirement Jeanette and Shorty traveled throughout the States and Hawaii, working in the yard, and doing woodcrafting.  In addition to His  Parents, he was preceded in death by, loving wife of 71 years, Jeanette Jones Hawkins, grandson, Joseph “Jody” Maddux, and brothers, J. R. and Carlton Hawkins

           

            Surviving are daughter, Pam (Lynn) Maddux; son, Curtis (Ann) Hawkins; grandchildren, Tracy (Lyn) Maddux, Kari (Rusty) Maddux Brown, Ian Hawkins, Erin (Eric) Thomas; great grandchildren, Rayven, Ryleigh, & Ransley Lawrence, Amelia & Sydney Thomas; sister, Vernice Stoner; sister-in-law, Faye Jones; brothers, Bobby Hawkins and Bill Hawkins; several Nieces and Nephews also survive.

            Funeral services will be held Sunday, July 9^th, at 2:00 P.M. from the J. D. Hill Memorial Chapel of Earle Rainwater Funeral Home with Rev. Billy Dempsey, Rev. Mike Hawkins, and Rev. Johnny Wynn officiating, interment in West Hill Cemetery.  Active Pallbearers Tracy Maddux, Robert Williams, Daryl Bradford, Robert King, David Richardson, Jimmy Hayes, and John Shankles.  Honorary Pallbearers Adam Lathem, Robbie Lathem, Kenneth Parker, Kenneth Blansit, Waymond Blansit, Jimmy Pinion, WW II Veterans, and members of Pennville First Baptist Church.  The Family will receive friends Saturday from 6 until 8 P.M. at the Funeral Home.

            Earle Rainwater Funeral Home in charge of arrangements for Mr. Joseph V. “Shorty” Hawkins who passed away Thursday.