Joel Timothy Hawkins Jr.

Joel Timothy Hawkins Jr., was born in Augusta, Georgia on May 20, 1967, to Joel Timothy Hawkins Sr. and Jaqueline (Jackie) Hawkins. Tim’s parents joined Victory Baptist Church in North Augusta, South Carolina and it was there that Tim’s love of music and ministry flourished. Tim and Mrs. Jackie were a vital part of the music program at Victory as Tim played the drums and piano and sang in the choir and special groups throughout his teenage years. It was during these years that God called Tim to preach and into full-time ministry. Tim trained for ministry under his pastor, Dr. Larry Brown, at Victory Baptist College and then served on staff at Victory while in school.

It was during this time that Tim met and fell in love with Mandy Kay Sexton and the two were soon married. Immediately after their wedding, Tim accepted the call to Sharon Baptist Church in Cumming, Georgia under Pastor Randy Rye. Tim and Mandy served in the youth and music programs at Sharon until God opened the door for them to move to Cape Coral, Florida to work with Mandy’s father and mother, Tom and Nancy Sexton, at Gulf Coast Baptist Church.

The years at Gulf Coast were fruitful years with scores of young people coming to know Christ as Savior as well as many surrendering to full-time ministry. During his time at Gulf Coast, Tim began a large youth conference which attracted thousands of teens each summer to Southwest Florida. Hundreds of decisions for Christ were made during these meetings. Tim also led the music and was the associate Pastor at Gulf Coast for over twenty years before God put in his heart to pastor.

After much prayer, Tim and Mandy moved to Victory Baptist Church in Londonderry, New Hampshire to begin pastoring in the Northeast. The Lord used Bro. Tim in a great way at Victory, but the Lord began to make His will clear to Tim and Mandy. They left New Hampshire, and in December of 2021, Tim joined the leadership staff at Community Bible Baptist Church.

Tim thrived as the music director of Community leading a 40 voice choir, orchestra, and band each week. He put together ensembles, quartets, and trios and lead the congregational worship with much excitement. His ministry was not limited to music as he filled the pulpit on a regular basis, led the senior adult ministry, taught Bible and music in the Academy, counseled, made visits, and made himself available to anyone and everyone he could. Tim was a true servant who genuinely loved the ministry and loved people.

Tim touched so many lives and made a huge impact for Christ in every church and community he served in. His sense of humor (dad jokes) and his desire to be a blessing were contagious. Tim loved preachers and was constantly on the phone encouraging, counseling, and loving other men of God.

Tim was a faithful assistant to each of his pastors and was trusted to lead the church with excellence, allowing them to expand their own outreach of ministry. The void left in Bro. Tim’s absence is not just that of a musician or preacher. It was that of a preacher who loved music. Such a balance of ministry is hard, if not, impossible to duplicate. Add to that Tim’s work ethic and character and you find a rare man indeed.

Tim is preceded in death by his father and mother, as well as all of his aunts and uncles. He is survived by his wife, Mandy, his son, Justin, and wife, Keegan, and their soon-to-be born child, his daughter, Rachel, and husband, Elliott, and their soon-to-be born child, his brother, Timon, and wife, Melinda, and their sons, Jared and Chris, his sister, Phebe and husband, Jim, and their sons Matthew, Brandon, and Ryan. Tim is also survived by a host of extended family.

Please continue to lift up Mandy, the children, the family, and the church in your prayers as there are still many difficult days ahead. We claim Tim’s verse during this difficult time.

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

A gathering of family & friends for Joel will be held Tuesday, May 16, 2023 from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Community Bible Baptist Church, 6565 78th Ave N, Pinellas Park, FL. Following the gathering of family & friends will be a celebration of life service at 2:00 PM.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.beachmemorial.com for the Hawkins family.