Julia Welles Hawkins

1916 - 2024

Julia Welles Hawkins, 108, of Baton Rouge, died Tuesday, October 22 at St. James Place after a very short illness. The daughter of Julius Marius Welles and Margaret McGuire Welles, she was born in Lake Geneva Wisconsin, on February 10, 1916. Julia donated her body for use by the Pennington Biomedical Research Center at LSU, which is studying longevity. The family is planning a memorial service, which will be held at a later date.

Julia is survived by their four children: Murray F. “Lad” Hawkins (Mindy) of Jacksonville, FL, Warren S. Hawkins (Betty) of Asheville, NC, Margaret H. Matens (Jack) of Sewanee, TN, and Julia "Jugie" Battle (Joe) of Salem, OR; three grandchildren: Morgan M. Matens (Greg), Murray Matens Kimball (Bryan), Cooper H. Battle (Loxley); and two great-grandchildren: Ender H. Kimball and Lewin L. Kimball; a sister, Mickey Welles McCall, and many beloved nieces and nephews, and their children and grandchildren.

She was predeceased by her husband of 70 years, Murray F. “Buddy” Hawkins, Jr., who died on March 7, 2013, at the age of 95. She also outlived a granddaughter, Mandy Hawkins.

Though she was born in Wisconsin, Louisiana soon became home, and Julia was devoted to the state’s culture, flora and fauna. When Julia was just a baby, her family traveled by boat from Chicago to Louisiana, following the Mississippi River. The Welles settled in Ponchatoula where they ran a summer resort called Ponchatoula Beach.

Julia graduated from both Ponchatoula High and Baton Rouge High before attending LSU, where she met Buddy Hawkins on the first day of Freshman Orientation. After college, she taught elementary school in Ponchatoula, Brusly, and Honduras.

Julia and Buddy were married by telephone in 1942, after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, where he was stationed as a civilian physicist. When he was commissioned as a Naval officer without a chance to return home, they decided to marry in this unconventional way. During the ceremony, Julia was in Louisiana and Buddy was still in Hawaii.

Soon after the war, they moved to University Acres, and Mr. Hawkins became an LSU professor of Petroleum Engineering. He served for many years as Head of the PE Department. LSU remained a key focus for the Hawkins family. All four children are LSU graduates, and one of the old live oak trees on the campus is named in their memory. Julia was known as one of the most ardent (and oldest) Tiger fans. She had a wardrobe of purple and gold which she sported at basketball games, football games, and track meets.

Julia loved her years as a stay-at-home mom, Scout leader, Room Mother. The Hawkins family was well-known as the fun place to be — with a pet monkey and an alligator, a pole vaulting pit, tree houses, a backyard circus, and games galore. She encouraged her four children in their many endeavors, from Highland School to Robert E. Lee High to LSU.

Julia’s own hobbies and interests were plentiful, but she was most passionate about her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren as well as her hundreds of dear friends and neighbors. While others collected stamps and artwork, Julia collected friends. She took a genuine interest in every person she met.

She often attributed her longevity to having so many passions. These included fly fishing with Buddy, her old Model A Ford, flower arranging, gardening in her one-acre yard, promoting Margaret Stone’s botanical artwork, reading, collecting Magic Moments, watching LSU football in her lucky socks, Coffee Call, and raising bonsai trees. Julia began growing bonsais when she was 50, and remained active in the local Bonsai Club. In 2022, she donated 20 of her bonsai trees to the LSU Arboretum. The trees will eventually be exhibited in a Japanese garden bearing her name.

In her last decades, Julia became passionate about cycling in the Senior Olympics. For years, she and Buddy took daily bike rides in the neighborhood, so cycling came naturally to her. After winning numerous state gold medals, she began competing in National Senior Olympics across the country. She took part in the cycling events until she outlived all the competitors in her age bracket.

When she turned 100, her family encouraged her to switch sports to running, as a safer alternative to biking. Julia thought it was “neat” to run the 100 meter dash at 100! In her first track event at the Birmingham National Senior Olympics in 2017, she set a world record in the 100-104 age group. Her go-getter attitude and forceful personality earned her the nickname “Hurricane Hawkins,” and she always ran with her hallmark flower behind her ear.

Also that year she became the oldest woman to compete in the USA Track and Field Outdoors Masters Championships in Washington, D.C. She set American records in the over-100 categories in the indoor shot-put, the indoor 60-meter dash and the outdoor 100-meter dash, according to USA Track & Field Masters.

The national and world records in running skyrocketed her to notoriety. She spent the last years of her life giving interviews, making talks, and promoting an active lifestyle that focused on keeping fit and enjoying the out-of-doors. Her achievements were documented in Sports Illustrated, Runners World, NPR, and major newspapers and TV outlets. She received honors from LSU, the New Orleans Saints, the National Senior Games and many state and local groups.

Her longevity led track officials to establish a new 105-plus age group. Del Moon, a spokesman for the National Senior Games, said, “She inspired many people, especially older runners, to seize the impossible. As an athlete and as a very wise woman, Julia Hawkins has given a gift to all of us.”

In interviews she was often asked the question: What is the secret to your long life? Her answer: “Marry a good man and your life will be wondrous.” She spent 30 years handwriting her life story, which was published In 2016, titled ”It's Been Wondrous: The Memoirs of Julia Welles Hawkins.” She also co-authored a history of University Acres, and a “Magic Moments” journal which is available at the Hilltop Arboretum. She gave these journals to many friends, encouraging all to savor and record the wonders to be found in nature.

At 105, as her eyesight was failing, she ran her last race in Hammond, LA, just miles from her childhood home at Ponchatoula Beach. She set a new record — as the only person in the 105-109 age group in the world to run a 100-meter dash.

In 2023, Julia moved from University Acres (leaving the home built by Buddy in 1949) to St. James Place. Despite losing her eyesight, she spent two happy years there, visited by scores of family and friends. In her last months, Julia wondered why she was still here at 108. She told her family that she was ready for what happens next, calling it “the last great wonder of life.” She felt truly fortunate to have lived such a long, full life, and she was ready to be with her beloved husband.

The family is especially grateful to caregiver Kris Pettigrew, Susie Boudinott from Hospice of Baton Rouge, the St. James Place staff, and all her dear, faithful visitors.

Memorial donations can be made to the LSU Hilltop Arboretum, a place Julia helped to found and one she has supported for decades: LSU Hilltop Arboretum donations