George Brownlow HAWKINS, one of the city's oldest active business men, died at 4:40 p.m. yesterday in Barnes Hospital, St. Louis, after an illness of fourteen months. He was 79y5m29d of age.

Although in failing health for the past six years, he had continued until recently in his businesses at the Hawkins Bakery and the Hawkins and Pulley Funeral Home and as a director of the Mt. Vernon Loan and Building Association. Death was due to pneumonia and a complication of illnesses.

Funeral services will be held at the Hawkins and Pulley Funeral at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, conducted by the First Methodist Church and Dr. George P. RUTLEDGE, pastor of the Central Church of Christ. The body will lie in state at the funeral home where friends may call after 3:00 p.m. today.

Mr. HAWKINS is survived by his wife, the former Ruby RUTHERFORD, to whom he was married February 10, 1898, one daughter, Mrs. Maxine PAXON, and one granddaughter. Other survivors are two half-sisters, Mrs. Ben SESSEL of Boulder, Colo., and Mrs. Erie DAMON of Chicago, and two half-brothers, Rufus PALMER of Denver, Colo., and Richard PALMER of St. Louis.

His mother, father, a sister and two half-brothers preceded him in death. His father died when he was one and one-half years old, and his stepfather died when he was a boy. The family residence is at 309 N. 16th Street.

Mr. Hawkins was born on a farm near Lynchburg neighborhood, in Jefferson County, June 21, 1864, the son of Joel and Isabella (ASKEW) HAWKINS.

He started to work in 1883 in Mt. Vernon at the Ed KREBS grocery store and from 1885 to 1888 worked for Howard Brothers.

When he was 26 years old he went into business for himself. His first venture was a grocery store, in 1890, and in 1894 he established Hawkins Bakery, which after 49 years of continuous operation is one of the most successful in Southern Illinois.

In 1900 he became associated in the funeral business of Compton and Appleton, a firm which later became the present Hawkins and Pulley. He was one of the original stockholders of the Mt. Vernon Car Manufacturing Company and still held stock in that firm at the time of death. He was a director of the old Ham and Third National Banks. He served as alderman during the administration of Dr. L. C. MORGAN as mayor. At one time he belonged to the local Masonic organizations, and the Knights of Pythias. He was a charter member of the Rotary Club.

Mr. HAWKINS was prominent in civic work and gave support to all measures for the betterment of Mt. Vernon. He was also known for many charitable deeds he performed. He was a member of the Methodist Church since an early age.

Source: Mt. Vernon Register News
Date: Tuesday, December 21, 1943
Submitted by: Mary Zinzilieta