John Dennis Hawkins

John Dennis Hawkins, age 57, resident of Cleveland, TN, passed away on Tuesday, January 15, 2008, in a Chattanooga hospital. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Cleveland where he served as a third grade Sunday school teacher for a number of years. He had previously been a member of the Elks Lodge and had the honor of being the Elk of the Year . This was primarily for his work with the Elks Drug Awareness program. He was preceded in death by his father, John Samuel Hawkins.

He is survived by his loving wife, Willa Ann Hawkins, Cleveland, TN; two sons, Joshua Hawkins, Knoxville, TN and John David Hawkins, Cleveland, TN; one daughter, Brooke Wines and husband, Charles, Hendersonville, N.C.; mother, Johnnie Ruth Hawkins, Benton, TN; one brother, William Samuel Hawkins and wife, Karen, Moore, S.C.; two sisters, Lucy Seavers, Wake Forest, N. C. and Susan Griffin and husband, Dennis, Hendersonville, N.C.; 2 grandchildren, Kelsey and Heath Wines, Hendersonville, N. C. A very close friend of the family, Sang Han of Cleveland and Seoul, South Korea. Several nieces and nephews also survive.

A celebration of the life and home going of John Hawkins will be held on Friday, January 18, 2008, at 11:00 a.m. at Grissom Funeral Home with Rev. Bill Griffith officiating. Interment will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens with Sang Han, Brandon Shroy, Brent Shroy, Daniel Copus, Matthew Copus and Matt Lamon serving as pallbearers. The family requests in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, The Crohns and Colitis Foundation of America or the First Baptist Church Childrens Library.

The family will receive friends Thursday, January 17, 2008, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Grissom Funeral Home. Online condolences may be sent to www.grissomfh.net