Dear Neighbors and Friends.
We are sad to report the passing of our long-time neighbor, Joyce
Ann Hawkins. Joyce passed away on March 16. She lived on Gleneagles Drive for
39 years and was a member of the Tanta-Cove Garden Club and was once a block
captain. She also served on the PG County Historic Society Committee. Please
keep Joyce in your thoughts and prayers.
From her Homegoing Celebration at the Open Heart Way of the
Cross Church:
September 24, 1941 – March 16,
2023
Joyce (Ables) Hawkins
was born in Washington D.C. on September 24, 1941, to the late LaFate Ables
and Gazelle Ables. She was the youngest of seven siblings. Preceding her in
death are siblings Charles Brown, Shirley Parker, Juanita Tibbs, Gloria
Bullock, and John Ables.
Joyce grew up in N.E. Washington D.C. on Hunt Place, around
the corner from Tabernacle Baptist Church. It was in this church that she was
saved, baptized, and a member of the
original Tabernacle Echoes Choir. This would later become a family funny about
her music talent. Joyce graduated from Joel Elias Spingarn High School in 1954.
After graduation, she was a waitress for one week and quickly found that this
was not her ministry. The federal government employed her as a typist. She was
then selected to work in the area that involved the newest technology,
computers. Years later, she retired as a systems analyst GS15 for the Bureau of
Labor Statistics.
At the age of sixteen, Joyce accompanied her sister-in-law
Shirley Ables to a rehearsal where she met the pianist, Jim Hawkins. They would
tell the story that he stole her squirrel nut candy, and it was love at first
chew. They were married at Tabernacle Baptist Church on September 30, 1961. Jim
called her Jo and later named her “First Lady”.
From their union came two daughters, Judith Aarian and Jacquelyn
Annette. Later in life, Cynthia Nwachukwu became their goddaughter. Then
Kimberly Moore came into her life, and with one serving of ham became her bonus
daughter.
Joyce was a faithful member and mother at BOLD Deliverance
Ministries Incorporated. She was an entrepreneur selling purses, hand made
cards, and book marks. Joyce was a licensed realtor, a published author of Overcomer: By the Blood of the Lamb and the
Word of My Testimony. Joyce had a servant’s heart. She served as an usher
and trustee at Guiding Light Refuge Baptist Church. From there, her desire for
missions was shaped through a trip to Africa with Ebenezer A.M.E. As an
ordained deaconess at Fort Foote Baptist Church, her desire for mission’s work
was again fulfilled as a missionary and board advisor for Know the Truth International
Ministries.
Joyce leaves to mourn her one brother, Franklin Ables, daughters, Judith A. Hawkins, Jacquelyn A. Hawkins, goddaughter Cynthia Nwchukwu, bonus daughter Kimberly Moore, and a host of bonus grand children, nieces, nephews, and cousins.