Annie Carter Hawkins

Annie Carter Hawkins, 93, beloved teacher and community volunteer - commonly referred to as ""Miss Annie"" - died peacefully on May 12, 2017. Mrs. Hawkins was born in Winston-Salem, NC on May 2, 1924, the daughter of Dora C. Carter and Miles M. Carter. She was predeceased in death by her husband of 48 years, Allen Willard Hawkins, Sr.She is survived by her sons Allen W. Hawkins, Jr. (Brenda) of Birmingham, AL and Scott D. Hawkins (Susan) of Atlanta, GA; four grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; brother Conrad N. Carter of Winston-Salem; and numerous nieces and nephews. She grew up in Winston-Salem, NC, attended the Trinity Moravian Church and the Winston-Salem public schools (where she had perfect attendance for all 12 years), then attended the University of North Carolina at Greensboro during the War and graduated in 1944 with a degree in Education (again with four years of perfect attendance). She later earned a Masters Degree at UNCG. She immediately began her teaching career in Winston-Salem in 1944 and taught there through 1947, the year she married Allen W. Hawkins of Langdale, Alabama. When asked why she became a teacher she remarked that she never had a teacher that loved her so she decided to become a teacher and to love every one of her students. She considered herself the Champion of the Underdog. After marrying the couple moved to Langdale, AL (later Valley) which was Mr. Hawkins' hometown and Mrs. Hawkins immediately began teaching in Fairfax, AL (1st grade) and thereafter taught and tutored most of the next 43 years in Fairfax, AL, West Point, GA (7th grade), Lanett, AL (1st and 2nd grade), and Valley, AL (Southern Union College). She considered the thousands of students she taught as part of her family and frequently saw many of them in the community after her 1986 retirement. She regularly received cards and letters from her former students and she cherished every one. Many of those letters recall Mrs. Hawkins reading to her class from the novels Old Yeller or Gone With the Wind or The Yearling. Upon moving to Langdale, Mrs. Hawkins became a fixture in the community and at the Langdale Methodist Church where she taught Sunday School for 64 years. In 1998 she was recognized as an honorary Saint by her Church. She and Mr. Hawkins raised their two sons in Langdale. A regular and vigorous competitor in the Alabama Masters Games, Mrs. Hawkins won numerous gold medals in Ping Pong, Rook and Horseshoes, famously breaking her hip during the 1994 Ping Pong finals when she tripped as she attempted a slam. She was very aggravated that she had to forfeit. In addition to being a dedicated wife, mother and community and church leader, Mrs. Hawkins also devoted herself to the City of Valley. She was an original member of the Incorporation Committee for the City of Valley and served for 20 years as the first Chairperson of the City of Valley Historic Preservation Committee whose legislative role was to preserve historic structures in the City of Valley. Beginning with the historic Langdale Auditorium she and her committee went on to preserve 22 structures in Langdale, Fairfax and Shawmut. Mrs. Hawkins also spent 5 years going door to door to record the architectural style and history of every mill village house in Langdale and Fairfax, eventually resulting in the creation of the Langdale Historic District and Fairfax Historic District, both registered on the National Historic Register. In recognition of her work in this field Mrs. Hawkins received numerous awards including: The Valley Historic Preservation Commission Award, The City of Valley Achievement Award, The Alabama Historical Commission Distinguished Service Award and The Historic Chattahoochee Commission Outstanding Service Award. In 2005 the City of Valley established the annual Annie C. Hawkins Volunteerism Award, and presented it to her as the first recipient in recognition of her years of service to the City of Valley. The family expresses appreciation and love for the angels that cared for Mrs. Hawkins in her last years - Katherine McCullough, Trita Brooks, Lucille Melton, Joeann Johnson, Daphne Golatte, Leatha Washington and Bessie Carr. A graveside service will be held in Mrs. Hawkins' beloved Salem Moravian Graveyard (adjacent to Salem College in Winston-Salem) on Thursday, June 15, 2017 at 11 a.m., with Rev. John Jackman officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family requests consideration of a memorial gift to Trinity Moravian Church, 220 East Sprague Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27127. Online condolences may be made at www.hayworth-miller.com

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