Richard Wayne Hawks

August 4, 1947 - January 8, 2023

Richard Hawks never knew a stranger! He welcomed you with open arms into his life and stepped into yours with kindness, joy, and his trusty guitar.

He was born in Marshall, Michigan in 1947, one of 8 children born to Arthur and Alice Hawks. Richard was a humble man; he was raised on a farm and his love for the outdoors was ingrained. He also excelled in high school, graduating with top honors and a scholarship to Purdue University to study engineering. However, he found a greater passion in working with people and transferred to Graceland University to study Elementary Education.

With a job offer in hand after graduation, he was instead drafted for Viet Nam but instead was sent to Okinawa where he served as a Military Police. He also served as Pastor of the English-speaking Okinawa Congregation of the Community of Christ Church.

When he returned home from the military, he found his passion in ministry and became an Executive Minister serving the needs of church congregations in the Detroit and Chicago neighborhoods. Also, during this time, he acquired a wife! We were blessed to be married for 45 years and were thrilled to welcome our son Devon.

Richard’s gifts and skills lead him to be invited to minister for the church on a national level as an Appointee Minister for the Community of Christ Church. His first assignment was in southern California, specializing in youth outreach ministries to congregations in Los Angeles. His next assignment was as the Regional Administrator for the NE Region including North & South Carolina, Atlanta, Georgia, and Tennessee. A big region to cover. The next assignment sent him to Lamoni, Iowa, his Alma Mater, where he was the Campus Minister for Graceland University. His last assignment was here in his home state of Michigan working with the youth all over the Michigan region. He particularly enjoyed speaking in elementary schools and at the Genealogical Society about his heritage, sharing his family’s story of escaping slavery on the underground railroad to Canada. His guitar told the story of “Wade in the Water.”

Richard was deeply committed to his Priesthood Office of Seventy and later as one of the Presidents of Seventy, the missionary and outreach branch of ministry. His invitations as a guest minister also took him abroad to Australia, Tahiti, Haiti as well as throughout the U.S. When he retired from his official duties with the World Church, he continued to his dying day to embody that of outreach minister, providing help, and support to many of you, and touching lives in profound ways.

As many of you know, Rich was connected to his guitar. He learned to play when he was a student at Graceland, buying a secondhand guitar that he still used in his ministry. On one of our anniversaries, I offered to buy him a new fancy, upgraded guitar, but alas, he would never let me actually go and buy it as a gift. He used his guitar to meet people, to engage young people, and to gather the church for services. Let me be clear, if you thought Rich Hawks, could sing you are sadly mistaken! He had you all fooled! Yet he led campfires, choirs, played at wedding, encouraged those not in music to pick up an instrument, even playing at World Conference for the Quorums of Seventy to sing! This old, battered guitar helped bring ministry to many, and the theme song it played was “Wade in the Water”. As you remember this tune and remember the man who played it, please focus on his commitment and belief in God, his life of service, his belief that all were worthy and his example of being a bridge to connected with others unlike ourselves. This is what we would encourage for each of our lives and every time you do so, you honor him.

Devon and I and all the Collins Hawks family send you our heartfelt appreciation for the gracious ways you assist us during Rich’s illness. Your time, expressions of love, cards, letters, meals, and the many, many prayers sustained us. We have been truly blessed by your care.

THANK YOU! Authella and Devon

A visitation for Richard will be held Friday, January 20, 2023 from 3:30 PM to 8:00 PM at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes, 1730 East Grand River Ave, East Lansing, MI 48823. A celebration of life will occur Saturday, January 21, 2023 from 2:00 PM at Community of Christ - Capital Area Congregation, 1514 W Miller Rd., Lansing, MI 48911.

A livestream of the service can we watched at : https://webcast.funeralvue.com/events/viewer/83579

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.greastlansing.com for the Hawks family.

Floral arrangements can be sent to the funeral home or in lieu of flowers donations can be made to:

Outreach International: https://outreach-international.org/ or Community of Christ, outreach ministries in your local congregation or throughout the World Church. https://cofchrist.org/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIvY_zpYzI_AIVQ4JbCh3R3gi4EAAYASAAEgLB_fD_BwE#