Blanche Hawkins

September 15, 2013

Blanche Gardner Hawkins, age 93, life-long resident of Santa Fe community, passed away Sunday, September 15, 2013 at the home of her daughter, surrounded by family.

Funeral services will be conducted on Wednesday, September 18, 2013 at 2PM in the chapel of Heritage Funeral Home with niece and nephews Rev. Jim Gardner, Rev. Susan Gardner-Alexander, Rev. Paul Gardner, and Dr. Joe Bowers officiating. Burial will follow in Santa Fe Cemetery. The family will receive friends for visitation on Tuesday, September 17, 2013 from 4-8PM and again one hour prior to the service on Wednesday at Heritage Funeral Home. Heritage Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Blanche was born on December 25, 1919 to Everett and Mary Hogan Gardner in the Fly community. On December 17, 1938, she married Herbert Hawkins who preceded her in death on October 25, 1985, and moved to “Dark Hollow” off Snow Creek Road. She was a member of Union Methodist Church where she served as pianist, Sunday school teacher, MYF counselor and was a member of Woman’s Society of Christian Service which later became United Methodist Women. She planned and conducted the children’s program for homecoming at the church many years. When Union Church closed, she returned to her home church, Goshen United Methodist Church. She served as pianist at Godwin-Chappell United Methodist Church for several years. She liked studying genealogy and was the family’s historian. She enjoyed working in her yard and flower gardens.

She is survived by her daughter: Linda Ruth (Frank) Dodson of Jackson, TN; one granddaughter: Jennifer (Jonathan) Roland; and two great-granddaughters: Ashley and Lindsey of Medina, Tennessee; one sister: Helen Anderson of Hermitage; two sisters-in-law: Louise Gardner of Santa Fe and Lillian Gardner of Hermitage; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by two sisters: Margaret Gardner and Ruby Fox and two brothers: Rev. Jacob Gardner and Carl T. Gardner.

Nephews will serve as pallbearers.

Honorary pallbearers will be congregations of Godwin-Chappell and Goshen United Methodist Churches, Glenn and Meshell Hickman Steele, Reggie and Carla Potter, Lois Howe, Elton and Sharon Sisk, Stan and Zonelle Kozich, Jimmy Sowell, David and Louise Pearson, Page Jackson, and Lee Tomlinson.

The family expresses their sincere thanks to special friend and caregiver, Anita Perry.

It is requested that memorials be directed to Santa Fe Cemetery Association c/o Norman Harris: 3929 Sowell Hollow Road, Columbia, TN 38401, Goshen United Methodist Church Memorial Fund c/o Gaye Peach: 2882 Fly Road, Santa Fe, TN 38482, or Godwin-Chappell United Methodist Church: 1550 Santa Fe Pike, Columbia, TN 38401.

Condolences may be sent to the family at the top of this page.