Zilla Kate (Winter) Hawkins

Zilla Kate Winter Hawkins, age 96, resident of Somerville and wife of the late Raymond Hawkins, Sr., entered into Heaven on Friday afternoon, February 24, 2017.

Funeral Services for Mrs. Hawkins were conducted at 1 P.M. Tuesday, February 28, 2017 at the First Baptist Church in Somerville with Blake Neill of Somerville, officiating. He was assisted by Dr. Stan Smith, pastor of the church. Special music was provided by The New Gospel Heralds Quartet and Sally Baggott, soloist. Interment followed in the Somerville City Cemetery. Arrangements were provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes & Cremation Center - Main Chapel of Somerville.

Mrs. Hawkins was born September 16, 1920 in Vardaman, Mississippi, the 10th of 11 children of Jim Tom Winter and Mary Christian Gable Winter. She was a graduate of Charleston High School Class of 1937 and received her B.S. from Memphis State University in May of 1953. She was married January 15, 1940 to Raymond Hawkins, Sr., a World War II Army Veteran and owner of several grocery stores over the years in Somerville, including Hawkins Big Star # 36. Zilla worked by his side in all of them. Mrs. Hawkins was a school teacher in Mississippi and at Fayette County Elementary and High Schools for many years before her retirement from Bolivar Central Middle School in 1983. She taught History and English, specializing in 7th and 8th grades.

Mrs. Hawkins loved serving the Lord and was involved in many church activities. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Somerville and served in many ministries including tutoring in her home and at the Wilder Youth Developmental Center in Somerville, visiting people in prison, teaching Sunday School and Training Union, coaching Bible Sword drills, teaching the Girls Auxiliary, representing the Retired Teachers Union in Nashville, Board of Trustees at Union University in Jackson, TN, volunteering at the National HealthCare Center in Somerville, hosting a weekly Intercessory Prayer Group in her home, ministering to those considering abortions and leading the Snap, Crackle & Pop Aerobics Group until she was 92 years old. She enjoyed dancing, playing dominoes, preparing food and her family says she definitely had the “gift of hospitality”.

Mrs. Hawkins is survived by her daughter, Susie Kate Mills (Greg) of Cincinnati, OH; two sons, Dr. Raymond Hawkins (Cindy) of Somerville, TN, Steve Hawkins (Jackie) of Somerville, TN; her brother, Charles Winter of Chattanooga, TN; five grandchildren, Andrea Baker (Austin), Joel Parker (Jaclyn), Virginia Blankenship (Robert), Heather Soblavarro (Jarrod), Jeremy Hawkins (Jennifer); and thirteen great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond Hawkins, Sr. who entered into Heaven on October 8, 2005; her parents, Jim Tom Winter and Mary Christian Gable Winter; and nine brothers and sisters.

Those honored to serve as pallbearers were Jeremy Hawkins, Nathan Blankenship, Joshua Blankenship, Robert Blankenship, Jarrod Soblavarro and Glen “Pete” Morman.

The family requests that memorials be directed to the First Baptist Church of Somerville, 12685 S. Main Street, Somerville, TN 38068.

The family wants to give a special appreciation to Debbie Fowler Diggons for the care of Mrs. Hawkins in her latter years.