ɪ ᴊᴜsᴛ ʜᴇᴀʀᴅ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ʜɪs ᴘᴀssɪɴɢ. ʜᴇ ᴡᴀs ᴀ ɢʀᴇᴀᴛ ᴍᴀɴ. ɪ ʜᴀᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏsᴛ ʀᴇsᴘᴇᴄᴛ ғᴏʀ ʜɪᴍ. ᴍʏ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ ᴍᴏᴜʀɴs ғᴏʀ ʜɪs ғᴀᴍɪʟʏ.  ʜᴇ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏs ʜᴀᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴘᴀssɪᴏɴ ɪɴ ʜɪᴍ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀ ᴍᴜsɪᴄᴀʟ ɢᴇɴɪᴜs.  

So sad to read about the passing of Sonny in the Henry Times!  He worked in the BellSouth warehouse during the time I worked in the offices there. He was greatly admired. I was very happy that he and Pat married since she was also one of my warehouse friends.  I KNOW he will be missed greatly by his children and grandchildren!  My prayers that you all can get through this difficult time!    Jo Anna Freeman

Sonny, Pam, and I are cousins.  Our fathers were brothers and our journey of memories began when they moved their young families to Forest Park, Ga for a better life.  During our younger years, holidays were spent gathering at the Hankins home place in Summerville, GA.  As we became teenagers we saw more of each other attending Forest Park Senior High.  Sonny and I marched the F.P.S.H.  football fields together, he the best drummer ever, and I in the Drill Team.
It was apparent early on that Sonny shared his Dad’s love of music which lead to something;  THE PHOENIX BAND WAS BORN.
When my parents would go for a visit, I hoped the band would be practicing.  I loved to hear them play all the latest songs from the radio.  And of course we all loved going to the Forest Park Recreation Center DANCES when PHOENIX played.  Even after marriage and children, Phoenix was still going strong, and if you were lucky you could catch them performing locally.
Sonny’s other love, Harley Davidson Motorcycles, brought he and Pat, and many others together on rides and trips from the Georgia mountains to Daytona Bike Week which made memories we all cherish forever.
We witnessed the love between Sonny and Pat as they cared for each other during sickness and health.  But that love extended by leaps and bounds to his girls’ family and grandchildren.
Angel and Crystal, you made your Dad so proud!  He always talked about his appreciation and love of your families.  His goal was to “get well” so he could be with your families and “go see the grandchildren do their thing”.
May all your sweet memories bring you comfort and know Sonny is at peace with all his love ones.

Love this picture of Sonny.  He always had a big smile!


Such a nice family we treated there dog bear long time morrow animal hospital i k ew him thru friend Charlie and their band so sorry for families loss rip

First met Sonny in the 90’s listening to the great sounds of Phoenix. What a great band. Will never forget Sonny playing the drums and singing , Knocking On Heavens Door!
Sonny, now that you have gone thru Heavens door I know you are at peace now .
Keep singing and riding that HOG from cloud to cloud. 
Love You Bro.
Lloyd & Brenda Martin

So very sorry to hear of Sonny’s passing.  I remember going to visit Pam and  Sonny when I was just a little girl with my Mom, (Barbara Cash Jones).  He would be practicing those drums down in the basement, we enjoyed hearing him and his band play.  Also, remember seeing him play with the Forest Park High School Band at football game halftimes.  They were so good.  Thoughts and prayers go out to his family.  I have very fond memories of Sonny growing up and I know he will be truly missed. 

He was a lover of his family and friends, his Lord and church, his band and music, and his FPSH Panthers one and all!  He will be missed but memories will abound :)
                   
Marian Heaffner Bradberry- FPSH C/0 '66

Thank you Sonny for taking our family and making us part of your family. We will never forget all of the good times we had with Phoenix and all of the friendships we made while Geoff was with the band. I know that you are whole again and pain free. We know that you are so happy to be with Pat again. I bet you and Charlie have already been playing music together. You are loved and missed by many.

Sonny was my inspiration during my cancer battle and continued to be there for me until the day he passed away.  He was a true representation of a Christian, always encouraging and thankful to God.  We had known each other since 1962.  I know how painful his passing must be to his family and am praying for their comfort.  God bless you.


I love you so much Sonny and you will be greatly missed. It was always so much fun hanging out with you and my daddy when I was growing up. I loved hearing the band when y’all played and daddy would sometimes let me go with him over to your house for band practice and I always enjoyed the Hankins cookouts. There are so many great memories that I will cherish. I can only imagine the reunion you had with my daddy. I’m sure you are up there in heaven playing your drums and my daddy is playing his trumpet. 

In 7th grade he was my first boy crush, our kids went to Senior Prom together, my husband ran into him often around town.  I remember him and Charlie Johnson and their Band days.  May his suffering stop and his eternal life begin.

Thanks Sonny for being with us when Brooks died.  You will be missed.  

Words cannot express the sadness I feel of the passing of Sonny.....prayers of comfort and peace to his family and his many, many friends. RIP, Sonny...you will always hold a special place in my heart. 

Another classmate gone before their time.
RIP Sonny.
Tim and Gayle Durden
FPSH 67

OBITUARY

Carl "Sonny" Hankins Jr.

26 November, 1950 – 5 June, 2019

Horis A. Ward - Fairview Chapel & Fairview Memorial Gardens

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Reminders

Services