Irvin "Sonny" Hawkins

He was born in Fort Smith, Arkansas on July 6, 1929. A high school graduate of Garfield High School in Seattle, Washington. He studied at City College of San Francisco, San Francisco State College and the University of Washington and later graduated with a degree in Engineering. He was a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

He was employed with Boeing for 17 years as a Flight Test Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic; and, he was employed with the City of Seattle for 14 years as a Construction Management Specialist. He was a long term member of Mt.Zion Baptist Church, and he belonged to the Brotherhood Chorus.

Irvin served in the United States Army, as Military Police. He was Peace Corps volunteer in Central Africa, where he served as a Construction Supervisor in remote areas of Zaire and Gabon. He created several business proposals for a Tee-shirt manufacturing company and a commercial fishing company in Nigeria, Senegal and The Gambia. His leisure activities included furniture refinishing, Masonic research, and surfing on the Internet.

Brother Irvin Hawkins 33°, was a good and faithful servant to the Masonic organization throughout his life. Was a Sovereign Grand Inspector General, of the Thirty-Third Degree and the last degree of Freemasonry. He served as Worshipful Master of J. C. Logan Lodge #53, Commander -in-Chief of Prince Hall Consistory #67, and was a member of Beni Hassan Shrine Temple #64 under the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Jurisdiction of Washington. He was a highly decorated Mason and loved his fraternity deeply.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Walter Carol Hawkins, Edwin (“Ed”) Hawkins, two sisters,Catherine Hughes, Cleo Andrews-Stewart; and his parents, Vernie and Gussie Hawkins.

Surviving are two daughters, Anita Hawkins of Virginia, and Brenda Hawkins of Grand Prairie, Texas; a brother, Lee (“Brotha”) Hawkins, three sisters, Teresa Hawes, Cassie Ingram, and Verna Alexander;three grandchildren; LeIrvin Hawkins, Tiffany Auzenne and Adia Auzenne; and, one great-grandchild, Nadia.

He has left this physical world and has traveled to the spiritual world to be with the Almighty Father. He has been shaped into a living stone for that spiritual building, that house not made with hands, that is eternal in the heavens.

Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, Before the difficult days come, And the years draw near when you say,“I have no pleasure in them”: While the sun and the light, The moon and the stars,Are not darkened, And the clouds do not return after the rain; In the day when the keepers of the house tremble, And the strong men bow down; When the rinders cease because they are few, And those that look through the windows grow dim; When the doors are shut in the streets, And the sound of grinding is low; When one rises up at the sound of a bird, And all the daughters of music are brought low. Also they are afraid of height, And of terrors in the way; When the almond tree blossoms, The grasshopper is a burden, And desire fails. For man goes to his eternal home, And the mourners go about the streets. Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed,Or the golden bowl is broken, Or the pitcher shattered at the fountain,Or the wheel broken at the well. Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to God who gave it. - Ecclesiastes 12:1-7

Irvin will be inurned with Military Honors at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery located at 2000 Mountain Creek Parkway, Dallas, TX 75211.