Priscilla Squire Hawkins

Priscilla Hawkins Life Portrait 

Priscilla Squire Hawkins, the daughter of Myrtis Squire was born September 5, 1942.  The green eyed, brown skinned girl was raised by her aunt and uncle, Fannie and David Norton on King Street in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina and graduated from John A. Chaloner High School in 1960.   

After high school, she moved to Brooklyn, NY where she went on to marry her childhood sweetheart, Merlin Hawkins. She became a nurse’s aide at Kings County Hospital.  Shortly after, they started their family in a small duplex on Lot Avenue in Brooklyn.  In 1969, they moved to Long Island to accommodate their growing family, when she became a stay-at-home mom to raise their four children: Tracy, Vanessa, Kelvin and Rosalind.  She poured herself into raising them, stressing the importance of family, having a good work ethic, and getting an education. 

Putting her sights on higher education for her children, she re-entered the workforce in 1983 joining Pan American Airlines in Cabin Services.  She retired after 21 years with Delta Airlines as a Sr. Customer Service Agent.  In 2004, she turned her focus on being a fulltime wife and grandma (loving called “Arma”).   

Known for her candid whit, Priscilla made many people laugh but always delivered her sobering truth.  Her wisdom was invaluable; she knew to push her children beyond her own lived experiences, to expose them to a world of new opportunities.     

Priscilla joined the presence of our Lord on January 7, 2025, surrounded by her loving family.  

Priscilla is survived by her husband of 62 years, Merlin Hawkins, her four children: Tracy (Steven) Stoddard of Cary, NC, Vanessa (Marvin) Johns of Carrollton, VA, Kelvin (Valerie) Hawkins of Durham, NC, and Rosalind (Earl) Finney of Jackson, NJ; eight grand-children: Ashley Stoddard, Treven Stoddard, Gabrielle Johns, Jordan Johns, Kelvin Craig Hawkins Jr., Kayla Hawkins, Kyle Hawkins and Alina Finney.  In addition, she is also survived by her sister Rose Person of Roanoke Rapids, NC, sister-in-law Eula Crisp of Sayre, PA, her brother-in-law Frager “Lettie” Hawkins of Roanoke Rapids, brother and sister-in-law Carl and Diane Hawkins of Garysburg, NC, and a host of nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.   

Priscilla will be deeply missed by her family.  They are forever grateful for the time God gave them together. 

The family requests no flowers.  In lieu of flowers please consider donations in the name of Priscilla Hawkins to: 

St. Jude Children’s Hospital 

PO Box 50 

Memphis, TN 38101-9929 

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital 

OR  

Georgia Institue of Technology 

Merlin & Priscilla Hawkins Endowment Fund  

This fund is to assist a Halifax County Student attending Georgia Tech.  

Donation · Georgia Tech · GiveCampus

Please keep the Hawkins and Squire family in your thoughts and prayers.

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