Lucious Hawkins

WARRENTON — Lucious Hawkins, 81, of Warrenton, died Sunday, Nov. 9, 2008, at Kendrick Hospital in Greensboro.

Mr. Hawkins was born Oct. 8, 1927, in Halifax County, to the late William Marion and Willie Solomon Hawkins, one of the couple’s 12 children. 

Lucious attended the public schools in Halifax County, graduating from Weldon High School. Shortly thereafter, he was drafted into the United States Army, where he served his country at home and abroad. He was stationed in Germany for which service he was awarded a Medal of Honor, and was subsequently honorably discharged. After satisfying his military obligations, he returned to Halifax County where he decided to prepare for the world of work, and enrolled at the St. Paul’s Polytechnic Institute in Lawrenceville, Va., pursuing a degree in business education. He transferred to Howard University in Washington, D.C., from which he graduated with a degree in business education. He took a position with the U.S. Government in D.C. He would later earn a master’s degree in school administration from A&T State University in Greensboro.

In June, 1956, he married the former Lillie Gertrude Faulkner of Macon, and they established permanent residence in Warrenton. It was then that he transferred his membership from Israel Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., to Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Macon, where he worked faithfully for more than 40 years. He served as a deacon (chairman of the board at times), treasurer, adult Sunday school teacher, financial secretary, trustee and president of the Senior Choir.

Lucious was employed by the Warren County Board of Education from 1961 to 1990, where he worked as teacher and principal at Cool Springs Elementary School in the Afton Community; science and math teacher, counselor at John R. Hawkins Junior High School in Warrenton; teacher, assistant principal at South Warren Elementary School; and principal of South Warren Elementary School. He also served in numerous civic, public service and community capacities.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by five sisters, Sadie Pettiford, Will Faulcon, Mandine Gray, Mazil Jones and Virginia Smith; and three brothers, Julius Hawkins, Willo Hawkins and Nello Hawkins.

The greatest loss of all will be experienced by his wife, Lillie Gertrude of the home; a daughter, Germaine of Raleigh; a son, William Lucious (Billy) of Los Angeles; one sister, Lois Barkley (Arthur) of Halifax; two brothers, John Rasenwald (Beatrick) of Washington, D.C., and Quincy (Margaret) of Weldon; several nieces and nephews; and two sisters-in-law, Eva Hawkins of Halifax and Nanney Hawkins of Washington, D.C.

A viewing will be held from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m., today Nov. 13, at R.H. Greene Funeral Home in Warrenton, which is handling the arrangements, and at the church on Friday, Nov. 14, one hour prior to the service.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m., Friday, Nov. 14, at Mount Zion Baptist Church in Macon, with the Rev. Preston Williams (former pastor), officiating, and the Rev. Will C. Tabron, (former pastor) delivering the eulogy. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.