EMPORIA, Va. — On October 18, 2009, God called our loved one, Andrew Lee Hawkins Sr. He departed his life at Southern Virginia Regional Medical Center in Emporia, Va. 

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Andrew devoted his life to Emporia Foundry which help to support his family for many years. He retired from Emporia Foundry in 1996 after 25 years. Andrew was well known by many. Many knew him by “Bo” and some just called him “Mr. Hawkins.” He was always willing to take the family and friends to places they needed to go, but jokingly he would say, “I don’t have any gas in my car.” So we called that his song. Two of his favorite hobbies to do were fishing and watching wrestling.

Andrew was preceded in death by his first wife, Mary Ellen Hawkins of whom he had four children, Andrew Lee Hawkins Jr. (Ann), Joan Nichole Hawkins (Garrett Jr.), both of Emporia, Earl Wayne Hawkins of Winchester, Va., Sharita and David Colburn of Roanoke Rapids. He was also preceded in death by his mother and father, Carrie and Jessie Hawkins; his sister, Ora Mae Person; two brothers, Roosevelt Allen and James Hawkins; a grandson, Curtis Gilbert; and a great-niece, Lexus Powell.

He leaves to cherish his memory his wife of 23 years, Alberta Hawkins of the home; this is when he accepted five more kids as his own, Linda Ann and Melvin Lee Jackson, Inora Lynn and Robert Williams, Vanessa Ann Gilbert (Dawayne), all of Emporia, Lemuel Lee and Pam Atkins of Richmond, Va., Michael Gilbert of Baltimore; two sisters, Hattie Mae Ricks (Tyrone) of Seaboard and Callie Deloatch (Henry) of Roanoke Rapids; four stepsisters, Alease Tucker (Andrea) of Skippers, Va., Rebecca Taylor (Percy) and Elizabeth Person (Otis), both of Emporia, and Josephine Dugger of Richmond; three brothers, Willie Hawkins (Lucy) of Jackson, Junius Hawkins (Deloris) and Jessie Hawkins (Pam), both of Seaboard; his sisters-in-law, Beactrice Woods, Emma Smith (Ronnie) and Eunice Davis, all of Emporia; two brothers-in-law, James Atkins of Richmond and Thomas Pope Jr. of Emporia; 26 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends; also Carolyn Bate, someone special he thought of as a daughter; and close cousin and friend, Mr. Leamon Allen.

Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 24, at the White Chapel of Emporia, with Elder James Obie officiating.

 Pearson and Son Funeral Service Inc., 556 Halifax St., Emporia VA 23847, 434-634-2121 is handling the arrangements.

 Memorial tributes may be left at www.pearsonandsonfuneralhome.com.