Shirley (Tomlinson) Hawkins

Shirley Tomlinson Hawkins, 90, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at UNC Health Lenoir, surrounded by her loving family. She was born on March 12, 1936, in Wilson, North Carolina.

Shirley was a devout Christian who loved the Lord Jesus Christ with unwavering faith and deep commitment. She was full of spirit, possessed a servant’s heart, and had a profound love for the Word of God, hymns, singing, and especially playing the piano. Self-taught and unable to read music, she learned to play by ear and faithfully served for more than 25 years as pianist at Dover Missionary Baptist Church, where she was a dedicated member.

She found joy in many things throughout her life. You could often find her outside tending to her yard—planting flowers, creating new flower beds, rearranging landscaping, or adding pavers for a new patio—whatever it took to keep her yard pristine. If she wasn’t outside, she was likely inside her home doing much the same: cleaning, decorating, rearranging furniture, and then rearranging it again until it felt just right. At the end of a good day, she loved relaxing on her front porch swing with a sweet tea or a Coca-Cola.

One of Shirley’s greatest joys was Christmas. She loved everything about the season, the trees, the lights, the music—but most of all, the time spent with her family. Her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren brought her endless happiness. She cherished the smiles, laughter, and the sound of little feet running through the house. She especially enjoyed laying out her new Christmas clothes across the bed and proudly staging gifts for everyone to admire.

While she loved many things in life, Shirley’s greatest accomplishment and truest passion was her family. They were always the center of her world. She dedicated her life to loving and caring for them and served as the family’s matriarch, backbone, and guiding light. She was the source of comfort during difficult times and the person everyone could turn to for peace and reassurance. For 90 years, Shirley lived a life marked by love, faith, dedication, comfort, and purpose. She not only set an example for others, she lived it daily. Her legacy will continue through all who knew and loved her.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, Ernie Tomlinson and Josephine Tomlinson; her husband of 53 years, Robert Hawkins; her brothers, William, Tony, and Marshall; and her sisters, Troni, Geraldine, Sharon, and Ruth.

She leaves behind a loving family who will miss her dearly, including her daughters, Jane Howard (Rex) and Judy Hawkins (Dennis); her sons, Joe L. Hawkins (Maggie) and Robert Hawkins; and her sister, Frida. In addition to her children, she is survived by 11 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, and 7 great-great-grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at Garner Funeral Home, officiated by Pastor Mike Pridgen. Visitation will begin at 1:00 p.m., with the funeral service following at 2:00 p.m. A committal service will immediately follow at the Hawkins Family Cemetery, located in the 500 block of Loftin Farm Road, Dover, North Carolina.

Flowers may be sent to Garner Funeral Home or donations can be made in memory of Shirley Hawkins to Dementia Alliance of North Carolina (dementianc.org).

The family will receive friends at the home of her daughter Jane Howard, located at 674 Loftin Farm Road, Dover, NC.

John 11:25-26: “Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die…”.