Obituary found in the Register News, Mt. Vernon, IL dated June 23, 1982.

The Rev. Elmer J. Hawkins, 89, 721 S 16th St., died at 9:30 P.M. Tuesday in Good Samaritan Hospital. He was an employee if the Mt. Vernon Car Manufacturing Co. and a minister before his retirement.

Mr. Hawkins was born in Marion County May 4, 1893, the son of John and Nancy (Meyers) Hawkins. On March 20, 1919, in Mt. Vernon, he married Ruby May Richards and she survives.

A veteran of World War I, he was a member of King City Barracks No. 102, World War I Veterans and served as commander of the group five times. He was a past member of the Disabled American Veterans, The Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion.

Mr. Hawkins was the creator of the white cross memorials on the courthouse lawn and helped to organize and start several churches in the area.

He served as Minister of the Taylor Heights Baptist Church for many years and also as chaplain for the Mt. Vernon Car Manufacturing Co. and Hickory Grove Manor.

Funeral Services will be held at 1:30 P.M. Friday at the Panther Fork Baptist Church with the Rev. Ross Partridge officiating. Burial will follow in Panther Fork cemetery.

Friends may call at the Hughey Funeral Home after 6 P.M. Thursday and until 11:30 A.M. Friday and from 12:30 P.M. Friday until the funeral hour at the church.

In addition to his wife, survivors include three sons, Elmer J. Jr. of Chicago and Richard C. and Larry D., both of Mt. Vernon; three daughters, Juanita Adams of Rock Falls, Betty Wallace of Sioux Falls, S.D.,and Nancy Higgins of Lisbon Falls, Maine; 19 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; one brother Roy Hawkins of Texico, and three sisters, Zetta Blankenship of Sandwich, Gladys Hoadley of Maple Park and Hazel Scarbrough of Elgin.

Mr. Hawkins was a member of the Logan Street Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by two sisters, six brothers, one grandson, two great-grandchildren and his parents.