Deborah Michelle Hawkins

Deborah Michelle Wilson was the first-born child, born into the union of Arabell Pryor and Legore Frederick Wilson Jr. Deborah was born on Sunday, May 24, 1953, at Provident Hospital, in Chicago, Illinois. Three more children would be born into this union, a sister Linda Wilson and brothers Michael Wilson and Steven Wilson. Her father also had another daughter; Marchetta P. Davis. On April 28, 1957, at age 3 Deborah was baptized at Saint Agatha Catholic Church, Chicago, Illinois. Deborah graduated from Hirsch High School, Chicago, Illinois, on Thursday, June 8, 1972. Towards the later stages of her teen years, she lived with her grandparents, her sister Linda and brother Steven. Deborah considered Grandmother Naomi Wilson her second mother. Deborah was quiet and reserved but she loved life and especially liked to dance.

Deborah was employed as a part time librarian assistant with the Chicago public library; she kept this job until she moved out of Chicago. She also worked at the Tandy Corporation, Fort Worth, Texas. While Deborah never had a big corporation job, she didn't mind because she felt that being a stay-at-home mother was more important. She was no big executive, but she successfully raised three children and trained a husband in five different states. She was also the main reason her husband was successful in three different jobs.

Deborah, the quiet reserved girl, met her future husband Dennis William Hawkins, in 1972, at a high school hayride. Dennis was substituting for her current boyfriend. Dennis and Deborah would not meet again until April 22, 1973. Deborah and Dennis saw each other for the first time since the hayride, they talked a while, went to a movie and spent the rest of the day talking and getting to know each other. After this they would see each other every day, up until that time, Dennis had never spent this much time with anyone outside of family. Deborah was the quiet and reserved, Dennis was the introvert with a strong personality, and he was smitten with Deborah, and she with him. They were with each other every day and officially declared themselves a couple on May 5, 1973. She was 20 and he was 17. Both families thought them a strange pair. No one expected the romance to last. By September Deborah was pregnant. With no family support, life looked bleak, but Deborah and Dennis were together as they would later in life, they fought their way through together. They found a one-bedroom apartment and with Deborah's part-time job they were able to get it. Dennis' only income was from delivery papers, but they managed. They were together and the Lord would keep them together for the next 51 years. Entering 1974, they desperately wanted to get married. Deborah could, but Dennis needed a parent's signature, and his mother was vehemently opposed. Enter the Lord, Dennis' father decided to buck the rest of the family and signed for them to get married on Wednesday, March 13, 1974. No one expected the marriage to last. They both knew that a part-time Librarian's salary and delivering papers would not be enough for a family of three. Being guided again by the Spirit, Dennis decided to join the United States Air Force, something he had never thought of. So, Dennis got his GED and joined the United States Air Force on May 16, 1974. Two children with a baby on the way. They would live in San Antonio, Texas, Fort Worth, Texas, Weight Patterson AFB, Ohio, Bellevue, Nebraska, Offutt AFB, Nebraska, Safford, Arizona, Thatcher, Arizona, (Deborah liked Arizona the best), Bastrop, Texas, Chicago, Illinois, and finally unincorporated Jefferson County, Colorado. With Deborah by his side Dennis was successful in the United States Air Force, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, and the Regional Transportation Districts. Deborah remained the more friendly outgoing one out of the two and she developed a bit of a bull head and could be as stubborn as him, and at times go toe to toe with him. Deborah's father told her one time when they were in Chicago, “you have changed, you have the bull in you." Deborah liked that. Deborah loved her family, and she is the reason that her family stayed so close and she is very proud of her family. By the power of Christ, Deborah and Dennis were married for 51 years and 11 months. Deborah would die 12 days short of their 52nd wedding anniversary.

Deborah Michelle Hawkins is a good Christian. Deborah loved the Lord Jesus Christ and His Father, God Almighty. Her faith was deep inside her. She did go speaking about her faith to others outwardly but kept her love for the Father and the Son deep in her heart and soul. She prayer and raised her children to believe in the Father, God Almighty and the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior of the world. Even as she approached death, she said she was not afraid. Because she never stopped believing in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Deborah liked playing electronic games on her phone and computer, watching her favorite soaps, Young and the Restless, The Bold and the Beautiful and General Hospital. She also loved the game show, Family Feud. Also, Deborah and Dennis loved to go to Estes Park and stay at the Stanley Hotel. They stayed there seven times, five of those seven were their wedding anniversary.

Deborah Michelle Hawkins peacefully departed this world, on Saturday, February 28, 2026. She leaves behind her husband Dennis, children; Burdella (Chad), Monique, Dennis, Grandchildren; Samuel (Rebecca) Aliya and Journi and Great Granddaughter Zeya. Her sister Linda and brother Steven (Toni) and a host of other relatives and friends.