Barbara Jean Hawkins

Barbara J. Hawkins was born in Fresno on March 10, 1924, to Oran and Alice Hawkins. She passed away on Thursday, May 12, 2011, at the age of 87, and joined her family in Heaven with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Barbara and her two sisters were raised in their home next to their family's grocery store on the corner of Blackstone and McKinley. She attended Heaton Elementary, Hamilton Jr. High, Fresno High School and Fresno State College. She graduated with a major in Elementary Education and Industrial Arts.

Barbara taught Kindergarten at Jefferson Elementary School (FUSD) for 40 years. She was a very creative teacher and was loved and admired by all her students over the years. She was named Teacher of the Year in 1985, the year that she retired.

Barbara had a keen intellect and a love of inventions. She created, copyrighted and patented may educational games, poetry and photography development tools.

Barbara spent the past ten years as a resident at San Joaquin Gardens.

She was preceded in death by her two brothers-in-law, Duette Mills and Richard Hanson.

She is survived by her two sisters, Virginia Mills and Beverly Hanson. She is also survived by her many nephews and nieces and their families, Melvin Mills, Marshall and Diana Mills, Marilyn Mills, Dorothy Wyatt, Darlene and Jeff Ennen, David Hanson and Daniel and Jennifer Hanson.

Visitation will be held at Whitehurst, Sullivan, Burns & Blair Funeral Home on Friday, May 20, 2011, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.

A Memorial Service will be held at San Joaquin Gardens in the Fellowship Hall on Saturday, May 21, 2011, at 10:00 a.m. Interment to follow at Mt. View Cemetery.

Remembrances may be made to Mount Herman Christian Conference Center; or Hume Lake Christian Camp.