Falcon Hawkins Obituary

HAWKINS, Falcon The Honorable Falcon Black Hawkins, Jr., United States District Court Judge, and husband of Jean Timmerman Hawkins of Mt. Pleasant, SC, passed away Thursday morning, July 21, 2005 at his residence. The relatives and friends of The Honorable Falcon Black Hawkins are invited to attend his funeral service Sunday afternoon, July 24, 2005 in The Summerall Chapel, The Citadel at 4:00 o'clock. Burial will be private. Friends may call at J. HENRY STUHR, MOUNT PLEASANT CHAPEL Saturday evening from 4:00 until 6:00 o'clock. Judge Hawkins was born March 16, 1927, a son of Mae Infinger Hawkins and Falcon Black Hawkins, Sr. in Charleston, SC. He graduated from North Charleston High School in 1944. He began his public service career immediately after high school as a U.S. Merchant Marine. He served in the North Atlantic Theater until 1945 and then joined the Army, becoming a paratrooper before his honorable discharge in 1946. After WWII, he returned to his native Charleston and worked at the Charleston Naval Shipyard where he rose to the position of Leadingman Electronics. While simultaneously working at the Shipyard, he entered The Citadel as a veteran student. A determined scholar, Hawkins graduated in 1958 with honors in Business Administration, earning the title of Senior Veteran Gold Star Student. He was active in college life through memberships with the Veterans Council, the Economics Honor Society and The Citadel Honorary Society. Judge Hawkins received his law degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law and in 1963 embarked on his legal career, forming the law firm of Hollings & Hawkins with U.S. Senator Ernest F. Hollings. He was admitted to practice law before the U.S. Supreme Court in 1964. In 1979, President Jimmy Carter appointed him a United States District Judge for South Carolina. He became Chief Judge in 1990, and, in 1993, took Senior Judge status. In 2003, he was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from the Citadel. He was a member of the Judicial Conference of the Fourth Circuit, the South Carolina Judicial Invitational Golf Association, South Carolina Bar, American Bar Association, Charleston County Bar Association, and a former member of the South Carolina Trial Lawyers Association. He was recognized in Who's Who In America, Who's Who In The South, Who's Who in The Southeast, and Who's Who in Law. He was a member of Mount Pleasant Presbyterian Church and former member of Hammerton Lodge #332, member of the MUSC Board of Visitors, First National Bank Advisory Board, Charter member of the Mount Pleasant Cotillion, Block Island Hunt Club, The Hibernian Society, Carolina Yacht Club, and Snee Farm Country Club. Surviving are his wife, of fifty-six years, Jean Timmerman Hawkins of Mt. Pleasant, SC; three sons, Richard Keith Hawkins, of Mt. Pleasant, SC, Daryl Gene Hawkins of Columbia, SC and Steely Odell Hawkins, II of Suwanee, GA; one daughter, Mary Elizabeth Hawkins Eddy of Fairfax Station, VA; one sister, Millie H. Pridgen of Hanahan, SC; three brothers, Paul I. Hawkins of James Island, SC, John W. Hawkins of Hanahan and James David Hawkins of Mt. Pleasant, SC; seven grandchildren: Morgan Asbury Eddy, Rebecca Timmerman Hawkins, Ashley Atkins Hawkins, Allison Elizabeth Hawkins, Mary Elizabeth Hawkins, Steely Odell Hawkins, III, and Tanner Falcon Hawkins. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Mount Pleasant Presbyterian Church, Building Fund, 302 Hibben St., Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464, or The Citadel Foundation, 171 Moultrie Street, Charleston, SC 29409. A memorial message may be written to the family by visiting our website at www.jhenrystuhr.com. Visit our guestbook at www.charleston.net/deaths.