EDNA E. HAWKINS, 89, a former resident of South Whitley, was united with her Heavenly Lord and Savior at 4:15 a.m. Sunday, May 26, 2013.

She was born Aug. 11, 1923 in Montgomery, Ala., a daughter of the late John and Jessie (Knott) Gillespie. Her formative years were spent in Montgomery where she graduated from Sidney Lanier High School in 1941.

On April 5, 1942 she was united in marriage to Lloyd H. Hawkins. They made their home in Montgomery until Mr. Hawkins was discharged from the U.S. Army. They then moved to Michigan. In 1947, they moved to South Whitley. Mr. Hawkins died Oct. 6, 1991.

In 1994, she moved to Fort Wayne. She was a full-time homemaker, raising their three children. She was an accomplished landscape artist and seamstress. She was a former member of the First Baptist Church of South Whitley and First Missionary Church, Fort Wayne.

Surviving are her two daughters, Carole (James) Oglesbee of Fort Wayne and Margaret (Richard) Anderson of Bloomington; two grandchildren, Lelan Poppy III of Martinsville and Sarah E. Soares of Ossian; and four great-grandchildren who lovingly referred to her as "GG".

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a son, James Lloyd Hawkins; and a brother, John Gillespie, Jr.

Funeral service is 3 p.m. Sunday, June 2, 2013 at Avalon Missionary Church, 1500 Lower Huntington Road, Fort Wayne, with calling starting at 1:30 p.m. until time of service. Visitation also from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, June 1, 2013 at Smith & Sons Miller Chapel, South Whitley. Burial will be in the South Whitley Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Lakeland Child Evangelism or World Partners of Fort Wayne.

Condolences may be sent to smithandsonsfuneralhome.com