In Memory of Lilly T. Hawkins
The Lilly T. Hawkins Scholarship has been established to honor the life and legacy of Lilly T. Hawkins, mother of Roderick K. Hawkins, a 1997 graduate of the Manship School of Mass Communication. Mrs. Hawkins was a strong advocate for education and civic engagement and passed that legacy on to her children. The scholarship will support underserved and underrepresented students at the Manship School.
Lilly T. Hawkins was born on July 13, 1951 in St. Francisville, La., to the late Alice Hawkins and Robert Cummings, Sr. She passed away on December 4, 2020 in Baton Rouge, La. after a seven-year battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). As in life, her two sons were at her side when she made her transition.
A large immediate and extended family led by her beloved grandmother, the late Lucille Jackson Taylor, raised Lilly. Educated in East Feliciana and East Baton Rouge Parish Public Schools, Lilly, in addition to being an outstanding student, excelled in music and played clarinet as a member of the school marching band. She attended Northwestern High School and graduated from Zachary High School in 1971.
After high school, Lilly entered the workforce and started a family. On January 11, 1972, her first son, Mark Anthony “Tony” Hawkins was born. Lilly loved being a mother and not long after, on July 30, 1974, she gave birth to Roderick Kean Hawkins who completed her perfect family. She showered her sons with unconditional love, support and pride in their Black heritage. She passed down her love of music to her children. Tony played the clarinet throughout school and was a member of the Southern University Marching Band. Roderick has sung in choruses for many years, and studied vocal music and journalism at Louisiana State University.
Baptized at an early age, Lilly reared her sons at New Light Baptist Church in Zachary, La. under the leadership of the late Rev. Nathaniel Thomas, followed by the Rev. James Grayson. She later attended Second Mount Olive Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, La. where the late Rev. Lenn R. Alexander, Sr. was pastor. With an abiding faith and a heart for service, Lilly was an active member of New Hope Baptist Church in Zachary, La., again under the leadership of the late Rev. Thomas. She faithfully served as an usher as well as coordinating and presiding over church programs.
After decades in food service at The Paddle Wheel Express Restaurant, Louisiana School for the Deaf and LSU Laboratory School, Lilly took a leap of faith and became a Certified Nursing Assistant. In addition to her work as a devoted caregiver to the ill and the elderly, she spent nearly 20 years at Our Lady of The Lake Regional Medical Center as a physical therapy technician until she retired in 2014.
In addition to documenting family history through photography, attending local theatre productions, enjoying her career, and supporting friends, relatives and church members, Lilly was known for her outstanding cooking, baking, sewing, and her annual Christmas parties. Her family knew that she was never content to have only one job. She was a successful Avon sales representative. She seamlessly transitioned from a shift at the hospital, to baking desserts and tea cakes for customers, to fulfilling Avon orders. She was the queen of making lists and multitasking.
Lilly was devoted to her family and always eager to help care for young children. In 2004, a supportive friendship resulted in her marriage to the late Jerome Cade, Sr. Together they loved Southern football games, tailgating, watching NFL games, and taking road trips. Their relationship remained strong until Jerome’s death in 2013. Lilly continued her love of travel, especially visiting her son Roderick in Chicago. In 2016, Lilly was thrilled to visit Washington, D.C., where she got to tour the Obama White House, visit Congress and see the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and President Abraham Lincoln memorials.
She leaves to cherish her memories her loving and devoted sons, Mark A. Hawkins of Baton Rouge, La., who was her dedicated caregiver, and Roderick K. Hawkins of Chicago; sisters, Thelma (Prophet) Dupas of Baton Rouge, La., Alice Gardner of Zachary, La., Shirley (Rudolph) Lindsey, Gail (Allen) Dixon and Sharon Cummings of New Orleans; brothers, Eddie (Betty) Hawkins and Joseph (Kim) Hawkins of Zachary, La.; Robert (Regina) Cummings, Jr. of Bogalusa, La.; a loving and supportive aunt, Lucille Lathers; her lifelong best friend, Victorina Robinson, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and former colleagues.
Option to make check payable to: LSU Foundation
Notation Line: In Memory of Lilly T. Hawkins
Send to: LSU Foundation
3796 Nicholson Dr.
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
The LSU Foundation will work with Mrs. Hawkins’s family to establish the purpose of tribute funds contributed through this effort. Her family will also represent all donors for any needed revision to the purpose of the fund.
The LSU Foundation will share notices about memorial gifts with Mrs. Hawkins's family. We do not share the gift amount unless a donor explicitly gives us permission to do so.