James Edison "Eddie" Hawkins

Eddie is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Barbara Bruff Hawkins; sister, Nelda June Hawkins; daughter, Cindy (Scott) Knecht; daughter, Carole (Richard) Agee; son, Jim (Jennifer) Hawkins; grandchildren, Mike (Rebecca) Pitzer, Brad (Kaatje) Pitzer, LeeAnn (Nathon) Laws, Matthew (Ashley) Agee, Katelyn Hawkins, David Hawkins, and Abigail Hawkins; great-grandchildren, Haley Pitzer, Logan Pitzer, Kyleigh Pitzer, Kyndal Pitzer, Kennedy Pitzer, Kinsley Pitzer, Jonathon Laws, Jameson Laws, Grayson Laws, and Gideon Agee.

Eddie served in the Korean War as an Army Signal Corps Private with the Special Services Unit of Eighth Army repairing radio equipment, a hobby and interest he developed early and continued through much of his life. He retired from Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company in Nashville, TN in 1987, after 33 years of faithful service, known as one of the best workmen’s compensation authorities in the state.

Eddie loved country music, woodworking, automobiles, and yardsales combining these hobbies in unusual ways. Growing up on a farm in Hilham, he learned the power of ingenuity and invention making do with whatever was available during the hard depression years. Moving with his family to Detroit at the age of 14, Eddie took up his love of cars and began his countdown of owning and trading more than 100 cars in his life. He also built one of the first stereo radio receivers in the Detroit and dazzled his friends in his basement with the sound of moving trains and planes racing across the basement.

Eddie brought his love for music to Nashville in 1964 with a transfer within Fireman’s Fund and became fast friends with many young men and women who shared his interest in guitar, bango, steel, fiddle, and other instruments. Several of his friends experimented with early chords, and tunes with him, later becoming frequent faces on the Opry stage.

He would often handcraft replicas of his favorite cars and instruments in wood, and give away creations to friends at any opportunity. He was a member of the Fireman’s Fund Pioneers and distributed Meals on Wheels in Hermitage for over 18 years. Well known for his one-liners and bubbling personality, Eddie never met a stranger. Loved by all who met him. He will be long remembered and missed by all who knew him.

Eddie’s family will receive friends September 19, 2014 from 4-8 pm at Hermitage Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, 535 Shute Lane, Old Hickory, TN and September 20 from 9-10 am. Funeral Service and burial will follow at Hermitage Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens 535 Shute Lane, Old Hickory, TN at 10:00 am, September 20, 2014. (615) 889-0361. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations in Eddie’s name to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. (www.lls.org)