David Dwight Hawkins

David Dwight Hawkins of Raleigh, North Carolina, passed away peacefully at home on the morning of Friday, March 28, 2025. He was born on December 10, 1945, in Muskogee, Oklahoma. After the passing of his father, his family moved to Raleigh when he was 10 years old, and from that moment on, Raleigh became his lifelong home.

Following his service in the Navy, David found his calling in sales, a career that perfectly suited his natural gift for conversation and his ability to make friends wherever he went. He genuinely invested in the lives of others; a quality that was evident in the lifelong friendships he built.

David’s faith was a cornerstone of his life. He was a devoted member of Hayes Barton Baptist Church, where he served as a Deacon and was an active participant in the Danielson Sunday School class—a community that provided him with friendship, support, and countless shared meals over the years. He was also a greeter for the Family Life Center and an engaged student in the Yost Bible study class and Bible Study Fellowship (BSF). His love for his church and his faith was immeasurable, and he considered it an honor to serve.

David cherished his family and friends, always making an effort to stay connected and be present for life’s most important moments. He was a passionate supporter of the UNC Tar Heels and an avid NASCAR fan, rarely missing a game or race. An outdoorsman at heart, he spent his life embracing adventure—whether it was basketball, tennis, skiing, sailing, or offshore fishing. But his greatest joys remained UNC athletics and hunting and fishing with his son and close friends. For David, life wasn’t about creating a bucket list later—it was about living it from the start.

David was preceded in death by his parents, James Blackwell Hawkins and Ruth Claire Parker Hawkins Wilson, as well as his stepfather, Willis Alexander Wilson. His mother’s second marriage brought together two families, creating a rich life full of traditions and cherished memories.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 47 years, Jennifer O’Neal Hawkins, whom he adored. She was his perfect match and, as he often said, “the best wife a man could ever ask for.” He is also survived by his children, David D. Hawkins II (Ellen) of Raleigh and Michelle Hawkins Gelston (Hugh) of Apex; his grandchildren, Katherine Chasey Gelston and Hugh Houck Gelston III of Apex, and Katherine Anne Hawkins of New York. He leaves behind his siblings, James B. Hawkins II (Yolanda) of Raleigh, Bill Wilson (Glee) of Atlanta, GA, and Marianne Marshall (Wayne) of Raleigh, along with many nieces and nephews whom he adored and who adored their Uncle David.

David’s life was enriched by so many—his extended family in Tennessee, his lifelong friends, his Hyde County hunting and fishing crew, and his Broughton High School classmates, who still gather to reminisce about the good old days in Raleigh. His family is also deeply grateful for the doctors and caregivers who provided excellent care and guidance in his final years.

David’s presence was larger than life, and words cannot fully capture his spirit. Holidays and family gatherings will never be the same without him, but in his honor, we will continue the traditions he held dear—especially those passed down by his mother, Ruth Claire.

David will be deeply missed, but his legacy of love, laughter, and friendship will live on in the hearts of all who knew him.

A service to honor and celebrate David's life was held on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at 2:00 pm at Hayes Barton Baptist Church, 1500 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh. Visitors were welcomed in the fellowship hall following the service. To celebrate his life, the family invited attendees to wear Carolina blue to David's memorial service. David's service may be viewed at the following link: https://vimeo.com/1073573719

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to The American Diabetes Association, Alzheimer’s Research, in honor of David’s mother or Hayes Barton Baptist Church.

Brown-Wynne, 300 Saint Mary's St., Raleigh, is assisting the Hawkins family with service arrangements.