Obituary of Erskine Hawkins

Rev. Erskine Hawkins, Sr., age 78, of Vineland, NJ, went home to be with the Lord on June 7, 2023. Rev. Hawkins was born in Jacksonville, Florida on July 25, 1944, as the son of the late Aaron Hawkins, Sr. (Navy Vet WWII) and Lillie Mae Hawkins. He was the fourth of their ten children. His family moved to NJ in 1952, and he attended school in Bridgeton. Erskine Sr. worked in the glass industry for over 20 years and was employed by the P.J.Ritter Company and Wheaton's Glass Industries, retiring in 1983. Erskine fulfilled his dream of traveling to Beijing, China, where they had sent him to train other machinists. Rev. Hawkins' true passion was his relationship with Jesus Christ and his ministry as an outstanding preacher and teacher. Erskine Sr. gave his life to the Lord as a young man. In 1968, he felt a calling to become a minister, and he preached his trial sermon on December 8th of that year. For several years thereafter, he served as a minister at the former Bridgeton Tabernacle Church under the Reverend Bishop Arvin James Hall, Sr. Later, in 1979, after rededicating his life to the Lord, he joined New Hope Baptist Church in Cedarville, NJ. He was ordained in 1981 by the Bethany Baptist Association of South Jersey and, subsequently, was installed as the assistant pastor of New Hope Baptist Church under the leadership of their pastor, his brother-in-law, Rev. James Goolsby. Later, he attended the former Philadelphia College of Bible (renamed Cairn University). Throughout his ministry, Reverend Hawkins eagerly studied the Word of God and educated others as a Bible teacher. Erskine Sr. was appointed the Superintendent of Sunday School at New Hope Baptist Church where he served for over 40 years. Additionally, he acted as the adult bible study teacher at both New Hope Baptist Church and Ebenezer Baptist Missionary Union. Furthermore, Reverend Hawkins was a teacher at Bethany Bible Institute and served both as the District Superintendent and, later, as the President of the Bethany Baptist Association Congress of Christian Education for Cape May/Cumberland County. He also regularly traveled to many states with the National Baptist Congress of Christian Education until his passing. Rev. Hawkins cherished his children and their successes with utter elation. He enjoyed tending to his garden and decorating his home for Christmas, for which he won several holiday lighting contest awards. Erskine was also an artful cook and baker who took pride in hosting massive BBQs which initiated Memorial Day and extended to Labor Day weekend for many years. Rev. Hawkins is survived by his cherished wife Mrs. Emily (Chandler) Hawkins and their children Keenya Chandler of Philadelphia, PA and Kapenda Aurizio (Louis) of Vineland, NJ; second wife Katie (Green) Hawkins (deceased) and their children Doug Green (Anna) of Highland, CA and Marc Hawkins of Bridgeton, NJ.; first wife Beverly (Jones) Armstead and their children Erskine Hawkins, Jr. (Billie) of Grand Prairie, TX;; Mildred Williams-Morrisey (Sizemore) of Bridgeton, NJ; Crystal Hawkins Chloros of Manchester, NH; Rev. Aaron S. Hawkins, Sr. (Davina) of Monroeville, NJ; and his special son, Romaine Williams (Angela). Rev. Hawkins was predeceased by three of his brothers, Dr. Kenneth Earl Hawkins, Arthur Lee Hawkins, and Eugene Hawkins, and he is survived by his remaining siblings: Aaron Hawkins, Jr. of Vineland, NJ; Robert Hawkins, Sr. (Mardran) of Salem, NJ; Daniel Hawkins (Patti) of Los Angeles, CA; Mary Ann Goolsby (Rev. James) of Vineland, NJ; Rev. Charles Hawkins (Betty) of Williamstown, NJ, and Barbara Ann Hayes of Mays Landing, NJ. His memory also will be cherished by his 16 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, family members, and friends.